BIG DATA SHOWS STEEP RISE IN DOMESTIC ABUSE SEARCHES IN PANDEMIC

The data showed these tweets contracted by 4 percent, the third lowest. At the bottom of the rung were Singapore, which recorded a contraction of 40 percent, and India at 55 percent.

The report also noted that social-media posts that referenced misogyny, victim blaming and misconceptions reached 26 percent in the Philippines.

Social-media posts referencing justice, law and regulations accounted for 38 percent in the Philippines, while NGO support and community support were at 22 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

The data showed social-media posts that referenced religion, tradition and caste, as well as mainstream and social-media roles in VAW, increased.

“The study clearly shows the crucial role digital platforms can play in helping address violence against women,” said Bjorn Andersson, UNFPA Asiapacific regional director.

“It also underscores the urgent need to provide digital literacy skills to disadvantaged populations, to ensure access to potentially lifesaving online tools. Supporting women and girls impacted by the digital divide must be a priority for governments and partners as countries build back better in a post-pandemic world,” he explained.

The report focused on eight countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

The analysis spanned periods from September 2019 to November 2020 and covered about 20.5 million unique searches and 3,500 keywords on violence against women.

The report also obtained data from 2,000 posts on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Sharechat and the Facebook pages and social-media posts of 32 service organizations.