Online violence against women and girls is rising rapidly across Southeast Asia, with harms such as cyber-harassment, stalking, gendered disinformation, and non-consensual image sharing becoming part of women’s daily digital reality. Studies show that between 16–58% of women have experienced online abuse and 85% have witnessed it. These violations mirror offline patterns of gender inequality and underscore the urgent need for stronger digital safety, legal protections, and coordinated regional action.
On 3 December 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, ASEAN will launch the ASEAN Campaign Against Online Gender-Based Violence: “A Collective Call to Action – No Means No. Online Too.” Led by the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) Lao PDR and Thailand, in collaboration with ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) and the ASEAN Secretariat, and organised in partnership with UNFPA Asia-Pacific, the launch will bring together government representatives, youth groups, civil society, academia, the private sector, and digital safety advocates from across the region.
The campaign is the product of multi-year regional consultations and youth testing. It aims to equip women, girls, and bystanders—including men and boys—with the tools to recognise, report, and seek help for online violence, while promoting respectful digital behaviour and strengthening accountability. The launch will also feature Thailand’s national adaptation of the campaign, demonstrating how member states can localise the regional materials.This ASEAN-wide effort reflects a shared commitment to building safer, more inclusive digital spaces where consent, safety, and dignity apply everywhere—online and offline.
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PRESS RELEASE
UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 3 DECEMBER 2025 (20.00 P.M., BANGKOK)
“No Means No. Online Too”: ASEAN Launches Regional Campaign to End Online Gender-Based Violence, in Partnership with UNFPA
BANGKOK, 3 December 2025 – As digital technologies become increasingly embedded in everyday life, online violence against women and girls is one of the fastest-growing forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across Southeast Asia. To address this urgent challenge, the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), under the leadership of Lao PDR and Thailand, and ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) -Thailand, in coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat, today launched the ASEAN Campaign Against Online Gender-Based Violence: “A Collective Call to Action – No Means No. Online Too.”
In observance of the 16 Days of Activism this year, the launch event, organized in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO), brought together over 150 high-level government representatives, regional sectoral bodies, youth organizations, civil society, academia, the private sector, and digital safety advocates to build awareness and mobilize a coordinated response.
Online GBV—including cyber-harassment, online stalking, gendered disinformation, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and digital coercion—is increasingly affecting women, girls, and gender-diverse people in ASEAN. Studies show that between 16-58 per cent of women have experienced online GBV, while approximately 85 per cent have witnessed such abuse.
A milestone in ASEAN’s regional response
The campaign is the result of a multi-year ASEAN effort grounded in evidence and regional consultation. In October 2024, ACWC and ACW convened a regional consultation in Bangkok, supported by UNFPA APRO, to discuss rising levels of online GBV and co-design a comprehensive communication strategy.
“Online violence erodes the safety, dignity, and participation of women and girls in digital spaces. It is part of the same continuum as offline violence, and it reflects the same power imbalances and harmful social norms that we work to address every day.” — H.E. Soukphaphone Phanit, Representative of Lao PDR to ACWC for Women’s Rights, and campaign co-champion
Thailand’s national launch: leading by example
Today’s event marks the national launch of the campaign in Thailand, showcasing how ASEAN Member States can adapt the regional framework to local contexts. Thailand’s launch featured a panel discussion on promising practices and actions to prevent online GBV.
“Thailand is proud to stand with ASEAN in taking this message forward. Localizing the campaign is essential to ensuring that our communities, families, and young people can speak up and take action against online harm.” — H.E. Dr. Ratchada Jayagupta, Representative of Thailand to ACWC for Women’s Rights, and campaign co-champion
Advancing a safer digital future for women and girls
The “No Means No. Online Too.” campaign provides communication materials in English and national languages—including videos, social media cards, and visuals—to support ASEAN Member States in raising awareness, promoting digital safety, and empowering survivors. The campaign underscores the importance of bystander intervention, responsible online behavior, and multi-sectoral collaboration.
The campaign reflects ASEAN’s commitment to fostering safe, inclusive, and empowering digital environments for all women and girls, and UNFPA’s ongoing support to strengthen regional cooperation, policy dialogue, and survivor-centered responses to online and offline violence.