Effectiveness of Digital Platforms to Reduce VAW

A rapid review of the evidence on the effectiveness of digital platforms to reduce violence against women and girls

Abstract

Traditional and digital media platforms can be important approaches to reach young people with social messaging, with huge potential to transform harmful social norms around gender and violence through public discussion and social interaction. However, these tools are not without risks and challenges.

This document provides a rapid review of the evidence on the effectiveness of digital platforms, including soap operas, radio programmes, Facebook, Apps, YouTube and Instagram, to reduce violence against women and girls (VAWG). As these digital platforms are still relatively new, this query also includes any evidence on the effectiveness of more traditional media approaches (e.g. radio, television). This report begins by setting out the methodology and strength of the evidence base (Section 2), before pulling out the key lessons from the evidence on the effectiveness of digital platforms to reduce VAWG (Section 3). Further details on case studies are provided in Annex 1.

Citation

Fraser, E and Enye, C (2018) Effectiveness of Digital Platforms to Reduce VAWG, VAWG Helpdesk Research Report No. 224. London, UK: VAWG Helpdesk

Effectiveness of Digital Platforms to Reduce VAW

Published 31 January 2019