Workshop 2 – Cyberviolence: non-consensual dissemination of intimate images (NCDII)

With digital communication becoming central to relationships across all age groups, the consensual sharing of intimate images has grown more common. However, alongside this shift, cases of the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images (NCDII) have risen sharply, disproportionately impacting women and girls. While often termed “sextorsion”, NCDII covers different types of conduct that is primarily a violation of privacy rights.  

While several countries have made notable strides in strengthening laws and policies to combat NCDII, gaps remain, particularly in ensuring swift action by service providers to remove harmful content and prevent revictimization, and by criminal justice authorities to investigate such offences. GREVIO’s General Recommendation No. 1 on the digital dimension of violence against women recognises NCDII as falling within the scope of sexual harassment as defined by the Istanbul Convention. Moreover, NCDII is to be made a criminal offence under Article 5 of the EU Directive on  combating violence against women and domestic violence of 2024 and under Article 16 of the new UN Convention against Cybercrime.

The purpose of this workshop is to identify and promote evidence-based good practices for addressing NCDII, focusing on legislative frameworks, investigative challenges, and strategies for public-private cooperation in content removal and survivor support.

Questions for discussion:

• Why should NCDII be recognised as a standalone offence in national legislation? What impact could this have on victims’ access to justice, and on the effectiveness of law enforcement responses?
• What are the legal and practical nuances that matter most when drafting or applying legislation on NCDII? How do elements like definitions, consent, intent, and platform obligations influence real-world outcomes?
• What investigative approaches have proven most effective in NCDII cases? Are there lessons from other areas – such as online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) – that could inform better coordination, evidence collection, or victim support in these cases?