Addressing Digital Gender-Based Violence in Organized Crime Contexts

• The organization Taller de Comunicación Mujer (TCM) conducted a project to examine the intersection of digital gender-based violence and organized crime in Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico.
• Findings were compiled into a private report intended to support human rights defenders and survivors by documenting community-led resistance strategies.
• Digital violence is used by criminal entities for extortion, surveillance, and recruitment, with severe consequences including femicide and displacement.

Challenges and Context

• Organized crime in the region functions through opaque networks involving both state and corporate actors.
• Government responses, such as increased militarization and reduced social service budgets, have exacerbated risks for vulnerable groups.
• Marginalized populations—including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, migrants, Indigenous peoples, and human rights defenders—face disproportionate exposure to violence.

Project Outcomes and Future Steps

• The initiative engaged 10 organizations and approximately 150 participants, facilitating knowledge exchange among Global South activists.
• The research will inform the "Navegando Libres" helpline operations and inspire future counter-narrative projects.
• Future goals include developing accessible educational materials and securing further training to address intersectional, anti-racist, and trans-feminist perspectives in protection efforts.