Commission on the Status of Women: Delegates at Lifelink model UN conference 2025 debate digital gender-based violence
As delegates for this year’s LTMUN conference were engaged in their various committee sessions, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) committee deliberated on the topic of regulating technology-facilitated gender-based violence in digital spaces.
As a submission on the topic, the delegate of Sudan said that focus should also be made on the mental health of women, and the effects of technology on their mental health. The delegate of Tunisia, however, was of the view that the online users, online perpetrators and the service providers were all responsible for the violence in digital spaces. The delegate maintained that while the focus of service providers was not meant to cause online violence, such as fraud, they are liable for the perpetration of such violence.
Further, the delegate of Afghanistan stated that despite the opposing effects, victims of digital-based violence should be aware of the dangers that exist in these digital spaces in order to gain some pleasure from its use.
While deliberations were adjourned to Day 2 of the LTMUN 2025 conference, the CSW committee generally underscored the global urgency of safeguarding women in digital spaces and are poised to find solutions such as creating UN subcommittees, promoting mental health, enforcing age restrictions, and driving public sensitization, delegates reaffirmed the need for stronger international cooperation to ensure that technology remains a tool of empowerment, not exploitation.
Diana A. Laryea, The Guardian, International Press Corps, LTMUN 2025
