In diverse contexts across the globe, women face constant threats to their safety and dignity, both offline and online. From Mariam in Hebron, whose privacy was violated through non-consensual photos, to Lilly in Papua New Guinea, living under domestic abuse and social isolation, and Iryna in Ukraine, displaced and cut off from essential support during war, these experiences illustrate how gender-based violence manifests in physical, digital, and social spaces. Digital tools, while amplifying risks, can also be harnessed to provide survivor-centred support and interventions.
Local women’s rights organizations are crucial in addressing these threats. One in three women will experience gender-based violence in their lifetime, a risk heightened during conflicts and crises. Harassment, technology-enabled stalking, and online abuse compromise safety and dignity, pushing women out of public life. Funding local women’s organizations is therefore essential. Through UN Women, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and Girls (UN Trust Fund) and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) provide critical resources, supporting emergency response as well as long-term resilience.
In Ukraine, early support from the UN Trust Fund enabled the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health (UFPH) to strengthen networks for health and protection services, benefiting women living with HIV, displaced women, and survivors of violence. When the full-scale war broke out, partnerships with WPHF and UN Women allowed UFPH to rapidly establish the Safe Women Hub, an online platform offering mental health support, referrals, and temporary shelter for women and girls. This existing infrastructure ensured continuity of care, demonstrating how early investment builds long-term resilience in crisis contexts.
In Palestine, the Rural Women’s Development Society (RWDS) has established trusted women’s clubs over four decades, providing safe spaces for psychosocial support and protection. Mariam found critical support through these clubs when her non-consensual photos were threatened online. With funding from WPHF and the UN Trust Fund, RWDS has expanded its services to include early-warning systems for violence and community-based interventions against digital abuse, partnering with community leaders and law enforcement to safeguard women and girls.
In Papua New Guinea, Voice for Change (VfC) has transformed community safety and support systems for women. Initial UN Trust Fund investment helped reduce public violence, establish local gender-based violence strategies, and form a network of Women Human Rights Defenders. WPHF’s flexible support further strengthened these systems, improving referral pathways, establishing Family Safety Committees, and addressing online harassment and cyberstalking. By integrating prevention, protection, and digital safety, these interventions create sustainable change at the community level.
The coordinated partnership between WPHF, the UN Trust Fund, and UN Women demonstrates how combining long-term investment with agile crisis-focused support can strengthen women’s organizations and build resilient, survivor-centred ecosystems. By linking institutional capacity, flexible funding, and gender expertise, this model ensures women’s groups can respond to emerging challenges while maintaining a sustainable impact, effectively turning immediate crisis response into long-term resilience for women and girls globally.
