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Cyber Violence Against Women and Girls
Multidisciplinary research and engagement examining technology-facilitated abuse
Project Period
Mon YYYY - Mon YYYY
Funding Amount
£XXX XXX
Funded by
Innovate UK
CyVAWG
Project Overview
CyVAWG (Cyber Violence Against Women and Girls) was a multidisciplinary research and engagement project led by Dr. Anitha Chinnaswamy and funded by Innovate UK, with support from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and West Midlands Police. The project examined the prevalence, forms, and impacts of technology-facilitated abuse against women and girls, including cyberstalking, online harassment, image-based abuse, deepfake exploitation, hate speech, and digitally enabled coercive control.
The project responded to the rapid expansion of digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and immersive technologies, which had contributed to the increasing scale and complexity of cyber violence while outpacing existing legal, policy, and support frameworks. CyVAWG addressed this gap through research-informed outreach, survivor-centred engagement, and the co-design of practical tools aimed at prevention, protection, and digital resilience.
Aims and Approach
The primary aim of CyVAWG was to mitigate the impact of cyber violence against women and girls by strengthening the evidence base, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and developing survivor-informed resources. The project adopted an interdisciplinary and trauma-informed approach, integrating expertise from cybersecurity, law, psychology, policing, public policy, and lived experience.
Delivery was structured around four interlinked pillars:
1
Raising awareness of cyber violence and its social, psychological, and legal impacts
2
Developing practical tools to support victims, allies, and frontline professionals
3
Building sustainable networks across academia, law enforcement, industry, and civil society
4
Generating long-term impact through dissemination, policy engagement, and digital continuity
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Research and Evidence
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Generated new interdisciplinary evidence on the prevalence, forms, and impacts of technology-facilitated abuse against women and girls
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Produced six anonymised, in-depth case studies capturing the lived, intersectional realities of cyber violence
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Analysed regional crime data (2021–2024) in collaboration with West Midlands Police, highlighting trends, victim demographics, and investigative challenges
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Engagement and Capacity Building
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Delivered two high-impact engagement workshops, reaching over 200 participants across education, law enforcement, academia, civil society, and the public
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Increased awareness of cyber violence as a continuum of gender-based harm through expert keynotes, survivor testimony, and panel discussions
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Introduced experiential digital safety learning through a Cyber Escape Room Challenge, strengthening practical understanding of online threats
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Resources and Practical Tools
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Developed the CyVAWG Toolkit, a survivor-centred and trauma-informed resource to support women and girls, allies, educators, and frontline professionals
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Provided practical guidance on recognising cyber violence, improving digital safety, navigating reporting pathways, and accessing support services
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Designed materials suitable for dissemination across schools, community organisations, and professional settings
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Partnerships and Collaboration
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Established strong interdisciplinary and cross-sector partnerships involving academia, law enforcement, government, industry, mental health professionals, and survivor-led organisations
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Strengthened collaboration between Aston University, West Midlands Police, DSIT, and civil society organisations addressing violence against women and girls
⚖️
Policy, Practice, and Legacy
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Informed policy and practice discussions on technology-facilitated abuse, online safety, and survivor-centred responses
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Laid the groundwork for academic publications and future research funding in the area of cyber violence and responsible technology
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Initiated a dedicated digital platform to ensure the sustainability and continued accessibility of project outputs beyond the funding period
Key Outputs and Outcomes
The CyVAWG project generated a range of research, engagement, and practice-oriented outputs, resulting in the following key outcomes:
Key Collaborators
Coordinator
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ASTON UNIVERSITY
Dr. Anitha Chinnaswamy
Short description of role in project
Partner Organisations
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
Principal Investigator
Short description of role in project
West Midlands Police
Principal Investigator
Short description of role in project