In observance of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Embassy of Romania in Tehran, in partnership with UNFPA and the UN Iran Gender Theme Group (GTG), convened a high-level dialogue on GBV and Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) at the Romanian Residence.

The event brought together heads of diplomatic missions, UN agencies, and partners to examine the rapidly growing forms of digital violence affecting women and girls, including cyber-stalking, doxing, image-based abuse, and deepfakes. Discussions underscored that digital harm is a continuation of offline violence, amplified by technology, and demands coordinated responses across borders.

Opening the session, H.E. Mirela-Carmen Grecu, the Ambassador of Romania, emphasized the shared responsibility of all stakeholders, including international organizations and technology actors, to safeguard digital spaces. The UNFPA Representative, Mr. Keita Ohashi, highlighted that TFGBV carries significant health, safety, political, and economic consequences for women and girls, their families, and society at large. He noted that UNFPA continues to raise awareness of this evolving form of violence to empower survivors and to advocate for stronger accountability and regulatory measures.

A dedicated technical segment featured a presentation by UNFPA Gender Associate, Dr. Fakhereh Khatibi, who provided an overview of TFGBV cases and their legal implications. Drawing on comparative international experiences, she highlighted how documented cases of technology-facilitated violence have contributed to legal reforms in several countries, strengthening protections for survivors and informing the development of more responsive legal and policy frameworks.

A panel discussion featuring H.E. the Ambassadors of Denmark, Romania, and India, alongside the UNDP Representative, explored the policy, legal, and technological dimensions of TFGBV. Panelists called for stronger regulatory frameworks, greater accountability of digital platforms, enhanced digital safety education, and increased cross-border cooperation to effectively address online harm.

The event concluded with remarks by the UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Ms. Yumiko Ishikawa Takashima, reaffirming the UN’s collective commitment to ending all forms of violence against women and girls and advancing safer, more inclusive digital environments.

The gathering served as a timely reminder that the virtual is real—and that protecting women and girls online is integral to upholding human rights everywhere