The Gender Equality Commission (GEC) and the Council of Europe Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC) approved the draft Committee of Ministers Recommendation on accountability for technology-facilitated violence against women and girls during a joint session held on 26 November 2025.

This instrument is timely, as technology can both unlock vast opportunities but also pose profound risks to women and girls. Technology-facilitated violence has a silencing effect, discouraging women and girls from participating fully in public life and undermining their equal contribution to democratic debate. When confronted with such violence, women and girls need responses that reflect the realities of such harm and which ensure meaningful protection of their rights.

The draft Recommendation puts forward a comprehensive approach towards addressing technology-facilitated violence against women and girls. It provides guidance for member States on enhancing legal, institutional and regulatory responses to strengthen accountability for technology-facilitated violence against women and girls. This including prevention measures to foster an environment of accountability where such violence is neither facilitated nor condoned, accepted or ignored.

The draft Recommendation will now be submitted to the Committee of Ministers with a view to its possible adoption in early 2026.