Executive summary
Executive summary
GBVO produces severe psychological distress, fear,
reputational and professional harm, often driving women
to withdraw from digital spaces. Collectively, this narrows
public debate, undermines freedom of expression and
media freedom, and weakens social cohesion. Institutional
responses are widely seen as ineffective, with legal gaps,
low trust, underreporting, and impunity enabling continued
abuse. Media also plays a dual role, sometimes amplifying
harm but also holding potential to reshape narratives and
set protective standards.
This study provides a foundational analysis of GBVO in
Syria, commissioned by DW Akademie to generate evidence to inform interventions that promote safer digital
spaces, support women’s participation in public discourse,
and strengthen gender-sensitive media and online environments. The research aims to equip media actors, civil
society, and policymakers and the wider international
audience with actionable insights to prevent GBVO,
improve responses, and shift harmful norms.
The study used an exploratory mixed-methods design with
a strong qualitative focus, grounded in feminist and ethical inquiry. It included: 1) a desk review of secondary data
sources; 2) primary qualitative data collection through
19 key informant interviews (media, civil society, legal, and
policy stakeholders), 12 in-depth Interviews with survivors
and women journalists/activists, and three focus group
discussions; and 3) an exploratory scan of selected social
media spaces, including Facebook and Telegram. A hybrid
thematic analysis was applied, triangulating evidence
across sources.
Recommendations: prioritize gender-sensitive moderation
and ethical reporting in media; survivor centered support,
documentation, and coalitions within civil society; and
legal reform, specialized institutional capacity, and awareness campaigns led by policymakers.
Findings show that GBVO in Syria is normalized and
systemic, not merely isolated incidents, functioning as a
mechanism of social control that reinforces patriarchal
power and restricts civic participation. It takes overlapping
forms, including sexual blackmail, harassment, defamation campaigns, doxxing, and psychological intimidation.
Women with visible public profiles, especially journalists,
activists, and civil society actors, are the primary targets,
with “visibility” acting as the key risk factor. Perpetrators
range from anonymous individuals to coordinated networks aiming to silence or discipline women’s participation. Abuse is facilitated by platform dynamics: encrypted
spaces (e.g., Telegram) enable coordination, while public
platforms (e.g., Facebook) amplify attacks. Victim-blaming
narratives are widespread, encouraging self-censorship
and shifting accountability away from perpetrators.
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