2nd World Conference of Women's Shelters

Technology Pre-Conference Institute

Technology: Violence Against Women in the Digital Age

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The Technology Pre-Conference Institute will focus on increasing advocates’ knowledge and use of technology. For victims and advocates to have access to justice and power, they must have both access to technology and knowledge about the use of technology. With this knowledge, victims can increase economic opportunities, find safety and support, and share their voices and experiences with others. The Institute will also focus on the various ways technology is misused as a tactic of abuse, as well as its impact on confidentiality and privacy for victims.

Purpose and Philosophy

We live in a continually evolving digital age, and technology impacts anti-violence organizations, the services that they provide, and the survivors that access them. The purpose of this institute is to bring advocates from across the globe together to share examples of best practices and successful strategies in both enhancing services through technology and addresses the risks for survivors that technology poses. The institute is structured to provide rich examples of key concepts and innovative approaches that highlight common threads of success.

Following the institute, participants will be encouraged to stay engaged with each other around the successes and challenges faced when they return to their communities. Faculty will work with participants to help identify the platforms that will work best for them to maintain continued communication and engagement with each other around these issues. The institute is rooted in the foundational philosophy that participants bring rich experiences, resources, and knowledge, and learning will be most successful when the structure of the agenda facilitates peer-to-peer learning and exchange of resources.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the various ways technology can be misused as a tactic of abuse.
• Enhance their ability to comprehend and strategize around potential risks to confidentiality and privacy due to emerging technology.
• Increase their knowledge on how technology can improve victims’ access to services and the justice system.
• Identify strategies and safety plans to assist victims who are harassed and stalked through technology.
• Increase knowledge on how to innovatively use technology to provide safety and support, increase outreach, and build communities.

Draft Agenda