Girl Effect India Launches CTRL+SHIFT+RESPECT to Combat Tech-Facilitated GBV
Girl Effect India has launched CTRL+SHIFT+RESPECT, an initiative to combat Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and create safer digital spaces for adolescent girls and young women. The programme, supported by the Kering Foundation, aims to empower girls with digital literacy, engage boys and parents, and strengthen survivor support systems.
The launch event saw participation from 20 organisations, including UN Women, and youth from Girl Effect's Gully Youth Lab, who pledged their support to tackle TFGBV. The initiative includes CTRL+SHIFT+HELP, a resource for victim-survivors, and Bol Behen, a WhatsApp chatbot.
Formative research by Girl Effect revealed that many girls lack the vocabulary and confidence to define online harassment as violence. This, coupled with a lack of trust in formal justice mechanisms, leads to underreporting of TFGBV cases, with only 30% reported to law enforcement. The most common forms of TFGBV are cyberstalking and impersonation, affecting 54.8% of Indian women. Severe mental health repercussions are reported by 65% of victim-survivors.
CTRL+SHIFT+RESPECT, initiated by Girl Effect, seeks to address these challenges by equipping girls with digital literacy, engaging boys and parents, and strengthening survivor support systems. The programme aims to make digital spaces safe and empowering for young women, fostering a culture of respect and accountability online.
