Empowering Survivors: How Digital Tools Are Transforming the Fight Against GBV in Asia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), working with development research institutions such as CLEAR Global, NANSHE, and Action Against Prohibited Conduct, has released a pathbreaking study titled "Survivor-Centered Digital Solutions for Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment." Written by lawyer and investigator Priyanka Chirimar, this ADB Sustainable Development Working Paper No. 112 (2025) examines how digital innovation is redefining gender justice across Asia and the Pacific. The report situates technology as a feminist force, capable of transforming the power dynamics that have long silenced survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH).

While digitalization has fueled online harassment, stalking, and exploitation, it has also provided tools for empowerment and protection. Drawing on the 2023 UN Commission on the Status of Women's recommendations, Chirimar advocates for feminist technology that centers safety, inclusivity, and accessibility. Globally, only 65% of women access the internet compared to 70% of men, a gap that widens in developing and island nations. Feminist tech, or FemTech, seeks to close this divide through trauma-informed design, privacy safeguards, and user-centered interfaces.

Mapping the Digital Landscape

The report maps an uneven yet rapidly evolving digital ecosystem across Asia and the Pacific. In South Asia, Nepal's Khabar Garaun app links survivors to shelters and police, while Nidarr enables women to report violence or send SOS alerts even without internet access. East Asia's Mongolia has pioneered tools like Strong Girls, Strong Nation to educate youth about consent and safety. Southeast Asia has seen the rise of apps such as the Philippines' VAWfreePH and SaferKidsPH, which connect survivors to trusted networks through GPS. In the Pacific Islands, where connectivity is limited, hybrid mechanisms like the Solomon Islands' SafeNet and Seif Ples clinics blend digital tools with on-ground outreach.

These innovations demonstrate how technology can bridge geographical and cultural gaps. Yet barriers remain, poor infrastructure, low literacy, restrictive regulations, and fears over data privacy often hinder adoption. Many initiatives now combine online platforms with in-person support, multilingual design, and simplified interfaces to reach marginalized communities effectively.

Designing for Survivors, Not Systems

The heart of the report lies in its call for survivor-centered design. Effective tools must balance accessibility, confidentiality, and security while respecting local culture. Key features include end-to-end encryption, rapid exit buttons, discreet interfaces, and clear consent processes. However, Chirimar warns of the frequent "development-to-death" cycle, projects that launch with enthusiasm but vanish for lack of sustained funding. Long-term viability, she argues, depends on continuous updates, maintenance, and community partnerships.

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers both promise and peril. Chatbots can extend 24/7 support, but they must be backed by human expertise to avoid misinterpretation or retraumatization. The paper urges organizations to use hybrid systems that combine digital automation with empathetic human engagement.

Global Lessons in Digital Safeguarding

ADB's study draws valuable insights from global leaders in digital GBV response. The United Nations' Clear Check Database screens potential hires for prior sexual misconduct, while the SEA Tracker centralizes data on allegations to enhance accountability. UNICEF's U-Report has become a global youth engagement platform, and UNDP's iReport enables citizens to document electoral and gender-based violence. The SafetiPin app, originally supported by UN-Habitat, uses crowdsourced mapping to identify unsafe urban spaces. Similarly, UNHCR's NotOnlyMe, powered by JDoe, lets survivors log experiences anonymously and detect repeat offenders without exposing identities.

Among civil society innovations, Circle of 6 allows users to instantly alert trusted contacts, PRIMERO provides data-secure case management, and Aselo integrates multiple communication channels to reach survivors across continents. Together, these examples demonstrate that the most sustainable systems combine global reach, local adaptation, and survivor trust.

Building Trust Through Innovation

Three standout case studies, Talk to Loop, CLEAR Global, and JDoe, embody this trust-centered innovation. Talk to Loop is an independent, multilingual reporting system that allows for full anonymity and real-time feedback between communities and organizations. From 2020 to 2024, it handled thousands of reports across 25 countries under strict GDPR compliance. CLEAR Global bridges language barriers through translation technology, voice tools for low-literacy users, and SEAH-specific glossaries to ensure sensitive communication. Meanwhile, JDoe empowers survivors to confidentially record sexual misconduct, identify repeat offenders, and connect with lawyers only by consent, protected by AES-256 encryption.

Chirimar concludes with clear guidance for governments and digital practitioners: build with survivors, not for them. Invest in multiyear funding, integrate local languages, ensure accessibility for people with disabilities, and maintain robust data security. Above all, technology should complement, not replace, human care.