Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) is an emerging and rapidly evolving form of violence that occurs through digital platforms and technology-enabled spaces. The increasing use of digital platforms in Bhutan has created opportunities for communication and engagement, while also exposing individuals particularly women, girls, and vulnerable groups to online harm and abuse.
Recognizing the urgency of this growing issue, the UNFPA, in collaboration with RENEW, has rolled out the first-ever training on TFGBV, a milestone in the country's efforts to address gender-based violence in the digital age. Additionally, a sensitization and consultation workshop will be conducted with various regulatory and judicial agencies.
A Training Built for Those on the Frontlines and Consultation with the Key Stakeholders
The training, and sensitization and consultation workshop is being conducted in Bumthang from 27 May to 2 June 2026. The Training component is aimed at GBV service providers from RENEW, the PEMA Secretariat, and other relevant agencies to strengthen their capacity to respond to TFGBV. The Sensitization and Consultation workshop brings together officials from regulatory agencies, the judiciary, and other relevant agencies working in the areas of technology and digital platforms to enhance understanding and strengthen coordination in addressing TFGBV.
Participants will be introduced to the definitions, forms, and characteristics of TFGBV, gain practical insights through case studies and response job aids, and engage in discussions on practical measures, coordination mechanisms, and policy considerations required to address online violence and abuse effectively.
Giving Frontline Responders the Tools They Need
For many participants, the training has already proven helpful not because TF-GBV was unknown to them, but because it was unnamed.
Pema Yuden, Case Manager and Counsellor at RENEW Community Service Center in Punakha, captured this sentiment powerfully.
"This is the first-ever TFGBV training conducted for case managers, it is a milestone in equipping us, frontline responders, with the knowledge and language to better protect and support those we serve. Before this training, we were already encountering TFGBV in our cases. We just didn't have the defined terminology for it. Now we do. Being introduced to defined terminology has helped us not only name what we're seeing, but clearly distinguish technology-facilitated gender-based violence from other forms of abuse, and understand its consequences and the considerations that need to be made. It wasn't an entirely new concept, but a familiar one, now much better defined. I look forward to deepening my understanding of TFGBV both globally and within Bhutan, and gaining practical tools I can bring back to my work supporting survivors."
From Evidence to Action
As part of the programme, findings from a rapid assessment on the TFGBV situation in Bhutan will also be validated, contributing to evidence-based interventions and more informed policy discussions. This step underscores the commitment of both UNFPA and RENEW to ground their work in the realities of Bhutan's digital landscape. This rapid assessment on TFGBV in Bhutan was conducted as part of a programme by UNFPA.
A Collective Response to an Evolving Challenge
Through this programme, UNFPA and RENEW seek to enhance the preparedness of service providers, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and regulators, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and guidance tools necessary to respond to the evolving challenges of technology-facilitated violence.
As Bhutan's digital landscape continues to grow, so too does the responsibility to ensure that this growth does not come at the cost of safety, dignity, and justice for those most at risk. This training marks not an end, but a critical beginning, one that signals Bhutan's resolve to meet the challenges of gender-based violence wherever they arise, including in the digital world.
