a몭acks.
The human costs are high ׃anxiety, fear, isolation and lost opportunities. But there are also collective costs׃
fewer women in public debates, weaker representation and narrower perspectives in media and public
life.
Survivors lack trusted, survivor‑centered support
Despite the scale of the problem, support systems are fragmented and uneven. Many survivors do not
know where to turn. Others fear that seeking help will lead to more stigma, victim‑blaming or even
punishment.
Existing services – whether legal advice, psychosocial support or digital security help – are o몭en not
tailored to GBVO or are hard to access safely. Some women rely on informal networks and trusted
individuals rather than formal institutions.
The study calls for survivor‑centered approaches that respect confidentiality, recognize the digitalo몭line link and o몭er practical options instead of simply telling women to “leave social media.”
Media are on the front line but lack clear protocols
Women journalists, editors and media contributors are both messengers and targets. They face abuse for
their work, their public profile and sometimes for the content they publish about gender
based violence online or o몭line itself.
Many media outlets, however, lack clear internal protocols on how to respond when sta몭 or sources are
a몭acked online. Responsibility o몭en falls on individuals or sympathetic colleagues, rather than being
treated as a workplace safety issue.
The study recommends that media organizations develop internal guidelines for responding to online
a몭acks, clarify responsibilities for support and follow‑up, strengthen digital safety and psychosocial
support into newsroom practice and avoid reproducing victim‑blaming narratives in their own reporting.
The study makes clear that no single actor can fix GBVO in Syria. Media organizations, civil society, platforms and policymakers
each have a role to play
Image ׃Mohammad Daher/NurPhoto/picture alliance
Civil society is filling gaps but needs support
Civil society organizations in Syria and in exile are already working to document GBVO, support survivors
and raise awareness, o몭en with limited resources and high risks.
Some provide digital security training, others o몭er psychosocial support or legal referrals, and some
engage with platforms or international actors. But these e몭orts are fragmented and not always well
connected to media actors or to each other.
The study highlights the need for stronger coordination and resourcing so that good practices can be
shared, gaps can be identified and survivors can find support more easily.
Safer platforms and stronger participation need joint action
The study makes clear that no single actor can fix GBVO in Syria. Media organizations, civil