International Webinar on Image Based Sexual Violence 2022
The International Webinar on Image-Based Sexual Violence focuses on emerging forms of technology-facilitated sexual violence and the responding legislative measures addressing the issue regionally and globally.
Date: 19 May 2022
Time: 19:00 - 22:00 (UTC+8 / HKT)
Platform: ZOOM
Session 1 | Prevalence and Trends of Image-Based Sexual Violence in Asia
Image-Based Sexual Violence (IBSV) behaviours include a wide range of technology-based abusive behaviours, from the familiar examples of non-consensual taking and distribution of intimate image, 'sextortion' to the newly emerged 'deep fake pornography'. While intimate images being spread widely in cyber world, victim-survivors also experience humiliation, bullying and doxing from netizens. Their social media profiles and personal information are disclosed without their consent, resulting in offline harassment and even physical threats. It is undeniable that IBSV is on a continuum with other forms of sexual abuse. NGOs around the globe are taking different initiatives to support the victim-survivors; many major online platforms are also making their efforts to formulate policies and user guides in response to IBSV and digital violence.
Objectives
Address the prevalence, magnitude and impacts of image-based and tech-facilitated sexual violence, in regional and global level
Share the initiatives, projects and measures that support victim-survivors and alleviate the violence
Identify strategies and key challenges in implementing the initiatives, projects and measures
Session 2 | Legislative Response to Image-based Sexual Violence
Most states in Australia and America had legislated against image-based sexual violence as early as 2014. Many Asian countries and regions are catching up with the global trend of legislation. For example, criminal laws against IBSV had been introduced to Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and the Philippines, etc in recent few years. Notorious cases, such the 'Nth Room case' of South Korea, had sped up the law reforms. Keeping pace with improvements in criminal law, civil law systems around the world are also undergoing changes, with relevant acts and orders being introduced. In practice, however, victim-survivors are being constantly failed by the law, by the police and by the court. Victim-survivors' narrative of their experience in judicial system is a major perspective for us to review on its gaps and inadequacy, and above all, to think about the solutions that overcome the deficiency. Being conscious of the limitations posed by the legislative measures, communities are assisting victim-survivors to reclaim control and autonomy beyond judicial system.
Objectives
Compare and contrast how different countries/regions responded to image-based and tech-facilitated sexual violence via legislative measures
Identify the progress, inadequacy and gaps of judicial system, such as, by demonstrating victim-survivors' narratives and experiences
Propose solutions for improvement on legislative measures and alternative ways that assist victim-survivors to reclaim control and seek justice
Speakers
Dr Annie Chan
Associate Professor,
Department of Sociology and Social Policy,
Lingnan University (HK)
Annie Chan is an associate professor at the Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University. Her research areas include family, sexuality and gender. In 2022 she has completed a study on women's experiences of violence in Hong Kong and another on men who take "upskirt" photos of women.
Honza Červenka
Associate, McAllister Olivarius (UK)
Honza Červenka is a solicitor at McAllister Olivarius, where he works on a wide variety of cases on both sides of the Atlantic. Due to his background in IT, he works on the technical aspects of helping people whose reputations have been attacked online, including victims of image-based sexual abuse.
Kai-Chiang Chang
Secretary General,
Women In Digital Initiative (WIDI, TW)
Kai-Chiang has engaged in advocacy for women's rights for more than 11 years, with a special focus on women's equality and safety in the digital technology environment. Kai-Chiang has a master’s degree in mass communication and a master’s degree in law.
Mary Anne Franks, J.D., D.Phil
President, Legislative & Tech Policy Director,
Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI, US)
Dr. Mary Anne Franks is a law professor and Michael R. Klein Distinguished Scholar Chair at the University of Miami School of Law. In 2013, Dr. Franks drafted the first model criminal statute on nonconsensual pornography, which served as a template for multiple state laws and pending federal legislation. Dr. Franks holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and doctorate and master’s degrees from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
Shailey Hingorani
Head of Advocacy,
Research and Communications at the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE, SG)
Before joining AWARE, Shailey worked on women's and child rights with the Indian Mission to the United Nations, Save the Children and the Bloomberg Initiative. Shailey received a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University. She also holds M.A. and M.Phil. degrees in political science and a B.A. in Journalism.
Jacey Kan
Advocacy Officer,
Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women (ACSVAW, HK)
Jacey has been devoted to civil organisations defending gender equality since 2016. Upon participating in Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women, Jacey has dedicated to the advocacy concerning legal reforms on image-based sexual violence, sexual assault crisis centre policy and victims' rights.
Yeojin Kim
Director,
Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Centre (KCSVRC, KR)
Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Center was established in 2017, Yeojin has been in charge of overseeing various projects and victim support at the centre. Yeojin is currently working as the Director.