Women in the Pacific are increasingly subject to digital abuse: new research
Women in the Pacific are increasingly subject to digital abuse: new research
Publish Date: 2026-03-29 15:05:00
Source Domain: theconversation.com
- Gender-based violence in the Pacific is widespread, with up to 79% of women in the region experiencing abuse in their lifetimes, often in conjunction with other forms of intimate partner violence.
- The use of digital technologies to abuse, harass, coerce, and exploit individuals has emerged as a significant concern, particularly in the Pacific where traditional communal practices and norms can hinder disclosure and support-seeking.
- Through a survey of 19 victim-survivor support practitioners and interviews in nine Pacific Island nations, the study identified controlling access to devices, coercive sexual activities via digital means, sexual image-based abuse, location monitoring, and exploitation through AI-generated deepfakes as prevalent forms of tech-facilitated abuse.
- Unique to the Pacific context is the “shared-device problem,” where a single phone within the household is commonly used by multiple family members, which complicates digital safety advice and exacerbates controlling behaviors.
- Practitioners face numerous barriers in supporting victims, including cultural taboos, traditional norms that place a high value on family honour and modesty, difficulties in contacting support networks due to perpetrator-controlled devices, and inadequate police response to tech-related violence.
- To combat these issues, the study recommends enhancing police and practitioner training specific to technology-facilitated violence, developing culturally-sensitive community education initiatives, and involving religious and faith-based organizations to provide support and prevent abuse.
