<p>Date: 18 September 2025</p>

<p>Time: 3:30 pm – 5:00pm </p>

<p>Not a LOL Matter: Social Psychological and Legal Perspectives for GBV and sexual harassment in digital space</p>

<p>What can we actually change to address GBV and harassment in digital spaces?</p>

<p>India is witnessing a disturbing surge in sexual harassment and gender-based violence (GBV), especially in public and digital spaces. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 31,000 cases of sexual harassment were reported in 2023—many in urban and semi-urban areas. Yet, the true scale remains hidden, as fear, stigma, and victim-blaming deter many survivors from coming forward. This crisis is not just about rising numbers—it’s about rising hatred. Rooted in patriarchal norms, many boys are growing up in environments that question women’s autonomy, dignity, and right to public space. The growing online “manosphere”—a network of misogynistic content creators and infl uencers—is now seeping into the mainstream, subtly shaping young minds to view women as inferior. Against this backdrop, SA-SNALC ( socialnormscollaborative.net ) in partnership with Contact Base ( www.banglanatak.com ) are convening a meeting with stakeholders and experts to deepen understanding of sexual harassment, cyber-induced GBV, and their social and psychological dimensions. Discussions will focus on the definition and forms of harassment, tools and strategies for prevention, relevant laws and redressal mechanisms, and the roles of social organizations working in this space. Experts will share insights on how survivors cope, how patriarchal mindsets can be challenged, and what collective action can look like. The meeting aims to create a space where network members listen, learn, and exchange perspectives, while also identifying pathways for policy influence, joint sensitization workshops, and collaborative campaigns. By making this a collective agenda, we seek to sustain ongoing dialogues, replicate effective practices, and strengthen efforts to ensure safety, dignity, and equality for women in both physical and digital spaces.</p>

<p>Key questions: </p>

<p>1. What does GBV and sexual harassment mean in the digital world? What does psychology have to say about its occurrence and prevalence? </p>

<p>2. What behaviours have been normalised in digital spaces that lead to GBV and harassment ? What needs to change? </p>

<p>3. What are the ways of addressing it, including legal recourses? What are the barriers, consequences? </p>

<p>4. What are the tools to address cyber-induced GBV and sexual harassment at diff erent levels of the socio ecological model?</p>