Considering that harassment, in all its forms, constitutes a violation of human rights and an obstacle to personal fulfilment and social participation,
Recognising that online harassment, facilitated by the use of digital technologies, has devastating effects on the mental and physical health of individuals, in particular, young people and vulnerable groups,
Noting the urgent need to adopt coordinated measures to prevent and combat all forms of harassment, including physical, psychological, verbal and online harassment, while respecting fundamental rights, including freedom of expression,
THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN, IN STRONGLY CONDEMNING ALL FORMS OF HARASSMENT AS ACTS THAT UNDERMINE THE DIGNITY AND INTEGRITY OF INDIVIDUALS, CALLS ON ITS NATIONAL COUNCILS TO:
• Urge their governments to strengthen existing legislation and regulations or adopt new ones to prevent and sanction harassment, including online harassment, and to include specific provisions for the protection of children and young women;
• Advocate for the introduction of educational programmes and awareness-raising campaigns in schools, communities and online to inform the public about the consequences of harassment and promote respectful and caring behaviour;
• Develop and strengthen support services for victims of harassment, including helplines, online reporting platforms, and psychological support services;
• Call on technology companies, social networks and online platforms to assume their responsibilities in preventing and combatting online harassment, including implementing clear anti-harassment policies, improving content moderation tools, and cooperating with the relevant authorities;
• Promote the importance of international cooperation to address the cross-border challenges of online harassment and encourage the exchange of best practice, joint research, and the coordination of legislative and regulatory efforts;
• Advocate for the creation of national and international mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating anti-harassment initiatives, in order to measure their effectiveness and propose improvements;
• Invite governments, international organisations, civil society, the private sector and individuals to engage actively in the fight against harassment, both online and offline, in order to create a safe and respectful environment for all.
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Source: International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) — 37th General Assembly, Marrakech, Morocco, June 23–28, 2025. Resolution No. 2.
