Summary

This project addresses the roots and causes of intersecting misogynistic and nihilistic violence fixated online cultures which endorse and/or promote violence against women and girls. These online-facilitated groups operating on the dark web are led by predominantly adolescent violence fixated males enacting extreme forms of gendered violence, including the production and sharing of materials involving and promoting sexual violence, misogynistic degradation and child sexual abuse.

The current lack of knowledge about how so-called ‘com networks’ that endorse extreme VAWG operate - including entry points, patterns of behaviour, and escalation pathways - significantly limits the ability of practitioners, policymakers, and safeguarding systems to respond effectively. We are motivated to address these gaps and to generate insights that can directly inform prevention, protection, and intervention efforts.

The findings of an open-source case study report and a state-of-the-art literature review report will shape the design of development of safeguarding resources via practitioner co-creation and knowledge exchange. Analytical insights grounded in frontline safeguarding realities will be translated into actionable knowledge via two Practitioner Co-Creation and Knowledge Exchange Forums (PCKEFs). Led by ConnectFutures, PCKEFs will gauge current states of awareness and key challenges faced, leading to production of a Train-the-Trainer Frontline Worker Package, including an e-learning module, slide-deck with detailed facilitator notes and practical guidance delivery manual. Knowledge generated in PCKEFs will have future utility and capability in terms of feeding into future risk assessment protocols and awareness-raising activities.