The United Kingdom and Australia have issued a joint statement, with the Foreign Secretary and the Australian Foreign Minister reaffirming their shared commitment to eradicating all forms of gender-based violence. The statement highlights that protecting individuals from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, particularly in humanitarian and peacekeeping contexts, remains a core principle of both nations' foreign policy.
Gender-based violence is described as a widespread human rights abuse, affecting an estimated one in three women globally. This pervasive issue carries significant social and economic costs, with global estimates reaching approximately $1.5 trillion annually, equivalent to around two per cent of global GDP. The joint statement warns that as digital technologies continue to evolve and reshape societies, these harms are increasingly being replicated and amplified online. It also notes a concerning rise in men and boys engaging with misogynistic content that normalises and promotes such violence.
Crucially, the statement identifies technology-facilitated gender-based violence as a national security threat. It asserts that the exploitation of online spaces to spread harmful norms, coordinate abuse, and undermine democratic institutions poses risks to social cohesion and women's participation in social, political, and economic life. In response, both countries are intensifying their efforts to ensure the safety of all women and girls and to hold perpetrators accountable, whether their actions occur online or offline.
This renewed commitment builds upon the Australia-UK Memorandum of Understanding to Collaborate on Ending Gender-based Violence, signed two years prior. Key areas of focus include prevention through evidence-based action to challenge harmful norms, strengthening justice responses, and providing support for victim-survivors with survivor-centred approaches. Both nations also pledge to drive coordinated international advocacy through multilateral forums, including the International Coalition to End Violence against Women and Girls, launched in May, and the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse.
Further collaboration will focus on online safety, specifically addressing prevalent harms such as non-consensual intimate image abuse, which is increasingly facilitated by generative artificial intelligence. Practical actions outlined include piloting and endorsing the Preliminary Model National Framework for Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) and launching a new round of the Tech Safety Showcase in partnership with UNFPA. These initiatives align with the 2024 Australia-UK Memorandum of Understanding on Online Safety and Security, reinforcing a shared vision for a safer digital environment for everyone.