Experiences and approaches being developed within the international E-mpowerYouth project
The digital environment has become an integral part of adolescents’ lives. It shapes the way they communicate, express themselves, learn, and socialize. At the same time, the online space is increasingly becoming a place where various forms of violence are reproduced and amplified — from systematic humiliation to sexualized exploitation.
Online violence is no longer a rare exception; it is increasingly becoming part of adolescents’ everyday digital experience.
The situation is further complicated by crisis conditions — war, forced migration, and social isolation. For many Ukrainian adolescents, the internet has become the primary channel for maintaining connections and adapting to new environments. However, traumatic experiences, language barriers, and disrupted social ties simultaneously increase their vulnerability to manipulation and online gender-based violence.
Under such circumstances, the issue ceases to be purely an individual psychological matter and emerges as a complex social challenge requiring systemic solutions.
Gender-based violence refers to violence committed against a person because of their sex or gender identity. In the digital age, it is increasingly shifting into online spaces, where technology becomes a tool for control, humiliation, and exploitation.
The most common forms include:
- cyberbullying — repeated humiliation, ridicule, or exclusion through digital platforms;
- sexualized online violence — unwanted sexual messages, coercion to share intimate materials, non-consensual distribution of such materials, or blackmail;
- online harassment (cyberstalking) — intrusive monitoring, threats, and surveillance in the digital environment.
In most cases, these attacks have a clear gender dimension: they disproportionately target girls and young women, as well as non-binary individuals and others with gender identities that may face discrimination.
Adolescence is a period of active identity formation, emotional sensitivity, and a strong need for social approval. Social media becomes a space for self-presentation, but also an area of increased risk.
Constant online presence amplifies the impact of:
- public evaluation of appearance and behavior
- social comparison
- peer pressure
- exposure to aggressive content
Research demonstrates a link between experiences of online violence and increased anxiety, depressive symptoms, lowered self-esteem, and social isolation. For adolescents, negative digital experiences can have long-term consequences for mental health and social development.
For young people, the online world is not just an addition to life, but an integral part of it. As a result, the risks they face are not only “virtual,” but have real-world implications.
Adolescents who are internally displaced or refugees experience a situation of double vulnerability. In addition to age-related risks, they face:
- traumatic experiences of war and displacement
- language and cultural barriers
- disrupted social connections
- uncertainty and unstable living conditions
These risks manifest differently depending on the country in which adolescents live. In Ukraine, they are linked to prolonged instability and limited access to support services, while abroad — particularly in Poland and the Netherlands — additional challenges include integration, language barriers, and cultural differences.
Despite the different contexts, one thing remains common: adolescents with experiences of forced displacement need adapted approaches to prevention and support.
Preventing online violence is a shared responsibility of educators, social workers, and psychologists.
Educators play a key role in creating safe school environments and fostering digital literacy and critical thinking skills.
Social workers support families, coordinate assistance, and help children in difficult life circumstances.
Psychologists provide emotional support, help address the consequences of trauma, and develop resilience skills.
Key areas of action include:
- early identification of risks
- working with parents and caregivers
- intersectoral cooperation
When it comes to adolescent safety, the efforts of a single professional are not enough — meaningful results are only possible through collaboration.
Modern prevention goes beyond simply providing information. Knowledge about risks does not automatically guarantee safe behavior.
More effective approaches are those that:
- develop practical skills for safe online interaction
- use interactive and digital learning formats
- engage both adolescents and adults in joint discussions of risks
Adapting programs to cultural and migration contexts is especially important. Universal solutions do not work equally well across different countries and communities.
An international approach to developing prevention tools
Online violence does not recognize national borders, and effective responses increasingly emerge through international cooperation. One example is the project E-mpowerYouth project, which brings together expertise from organizations in Ukraine, Poland, and the Netherlands with support from the European Union.
Partners include ICDI (International Child Development Initiatives) and Opora Foundation from the Netherlands, Ukrainian organizations Labor and Health Social Initiatives and NGO “Girls”, and the Polish PRO-FIL Foundation. Each has substantial experience in child protection, youth support, mental health, social work, and digital initiatives.
The aim of the international E-mpowerYouth project is to promote online safety for internally displaced adolescents and Ukrainian refugees in Ukraine, Poland, and the Netherlands. The project focuses on raising awareness among adolescents and their parents or caregivers about online risks, digital rights, and effective strategies for preventing online gender-based violence.
The combination of international expertise, practical experience with adolescents, and innovative digital approaches provides a foundation for developing new solutions to prevent online gender-based violence. This collaboration allows for consideration of diverse social and cultural contexts and the creation of tools adaptable to professionals and youth in different countries.
The project is currently piloting tools aimed at the systemic prevention of online gender-based violence among adolescents, taking into account the needs of displaced youth and different national contexts. E-mpowerYouth combines digital tools with interactive educational methodologies adapted to the experience of forced displacement, which allows for an effective response specifically to the risks of online gender-based violence.
This is not about one-time campaigns, but about building long-term professional approaches capable of functioning across diverse social and cultural environments.
Online gender-based violence is not an episodic issue but a complex social challenge requiring a systemic and interdisciplinary response. Particularly vulnerable are adolescents who have experienced forced displacement and must rebuild their lives amid instability and the loss of familiar support systems.
That is why professionals in the social, educational, and psychological fields play a crucial role. They not only respond to consequences but also help create environments where risks can be recognized early and support becomes accessible and understandable for adolescents.
As part of the project, trainings for professionals, workshops for adolescents and parents, and an information campaign in Ukraine and among Ukrainian communities in Poland and the Netherlands are planned. Project materials and tools will be made available for further use by professionals working with adolescents.
The integration of research, practical experience, and innovative tools creates an opportunity to move from situational responses to systemic prevention. Developing context-sensitive, adaptable approaches is one of the key steps toward creating a safer digital space in which adolescents can not only avoid risks but also feel protected.
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Co-funded by the European Union
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.