The Council of the European Union has adopted conclusions calling on member states and the European Commission to strengthen efforts to combat cyber violence against girls and young women, citing growing concerns over online abuse and gender-based violence in digital spaces.

The conclusions urge coordinated action to prevent and address forms of online violence including cyberstalking, online harassment, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and sexist hate speech.

Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Clea Papaellina, said the measures represent “a crucial milestone” in protecting girls online.

“Cyber violence against girls is real, widespread and rapidly evolving,” she said, adding that protecting young people in the digital age is “a shared European responsibility.”

Girls disproportionately affected

The Council’s conclusions draw on research by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), which found that girls and young women experience cyber violence more frequently than boys, often from the moment they begin using social media and digital technologies.

According to interviews conducted with teenagers across the EU, girls aged 13 to 18 also consider existing prevention measures to be insufficient.

The Council said cyber violence is rooted in systemic gender inequalities and harmful social norms that normalize male aggression and victim blaming, while online abuse often extends into offline violence.

Support for victims

The Council called on national governments to expand support services for victims, including mental health care, legal assistance and specialized services that take into account factors such as age, disability and sexual orientation.

Recognizing the non-consensual sharing of explicit images as a serious form of violence, ministers also urged schools to promote education on digital consent and encourage a culture of responsible digital behavior.

Education and awareness

The conclusions emphasize the need to strengthen digital literacy education for teachers, students and educators, covering online safety, the detection of disinformation and awareness of technologies that facilitate gender-based violence.

The Council also recommended that school curricula address gender stereotypes, harmful social norms and personal accountability, while encouraging greater participation of women in the design and development of digital technologies to improve online safety.

Parents and caregivers should also receive guidance and practical tools, including access to free parental control software, to help respond to technology-facilitated abuse.

Stronger enforcement

The Council called for more effective enforcement of existing EU legislation, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the AI Act, alongside stronger cross-border cooperation to investigate online crimes.

Ministers also urged increased investment in technical expertise and resources for law enforcement authorities and non-governmental organizations dealing with cyber violence.

Responsibilities for online platforms

The conclusions underline that online platforms and social media providers have a responsibility to incorporate safety measures into the design of their services, improve content moderation and prevent misuse of their platforms.

The Council also called for greater support for trusted flaggers that identify and report illegal online content, including gender-based violence, and for closer cooperation between technology companies and law enforcement agencies, particularly in tackling human trafficking.

More research needed

Given the rapidly evolving nature of cyber violence, ministers called for long-term research into its psychological, social and economic impact on girls and young women.

The Council also highlighted the need to better understand the causes of online abuse, including the role of sexist hate speech promoted by online “manosphere” and “incel” communities.

The conclusions build on existing EU legislation, including the Digital Services Act, the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, and the AI Act, which together establish the bloc’s legal framework for tackling online harms and emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence.