Background
We live in increasingly digital societies. The ways we communicate, work, learn, produce, consume, and access services and information are radically transforming. Technological innovations and digitalization offer amazing opportunities to access basically everything - with potential benefits for everyone. However, the risks of engaging online are not evenly shared. Like the offline world, women, girls, people with disabilities and LGBTQI individuals, face increased and disproportionate risks.
This is because technology and digital platforms are quickly turning into spaces where gender-based violence (GBV) can be perpetrated. GBV is enabled by these spaces as Technology-Facilitated GBV (TFGBV). This can include image-based abuse (non-consensual sharing of intimate images), cybertalking, online harassment or abuse, sextortion, online trafficking or doxxing (sharing of private or identifying information about an individual often with malicious intent). While this might occur virtually, there are significant real world impacts. And unfortunately the prevalence of TFGBV is rapidly growing. A regional study by UNFPA and University of Melbourne found that “digital spaces have become weaponised for abuse” in Asia, citing that globally about 60 % of women with internet access have experienced some form of TFGBV.
But there are solutions. They lay in designing and deploying technologies, through rights-based approaches with safety, security, and privacy as fundamental principles.
This Asia Safety Showcase, the first of its kind in the region, seeks to highlight innovative technology solutions that are preventing and responding to Technology-facilitated Gender-based Violence, making online spaces safer. We want to bring together supporters who share a passion for safe and ethical technology, which puts women's and girls' lived experiences at the heart of the design process to help the world reimagine the future of technology as a place that is safe for all.
We therefore invite tech innovators, startups, and organizations to submit their products or tools that place user safety and well-being at the center of design.
This Open Call for submissions will have three rounds:
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Round 1: Expressions of Interest - November 2025
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Round 2: Self-Assessment with UNFPA Assessment Tool - December 2025
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Round 3: Interviews between finalists and Coalition Partners - December 2025
We hope to announce the finalists for the Asia Showcase in early 2026. By highlighting examples of safety-by-design in tech we want to foster a community of practice to inspire and support an industry shift towards gender-centric safety by design, in turn helping to facilitate safe freedom of expression online.
Technology products and solutions will be assessed using frameworks developed for the global showcase using Feminist Principles of the Internet, Safety by Design industry guide, Guidance on the Safe and Ethical Use of Technology to Address Gender-based Violence and Harmful Practices, Orbits, and The Feminist Tech Principles.
Expression of interest (EOI)
Applicant & Product Details:
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Your Name
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Your Email
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Phone Number
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Website
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Organization Name
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Name of the Product (if different)
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Country the product is designed for
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Problem: (25 words)
State the problem the tech product is seeking to address.
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Process: (800 words total; Feel free to use bullet points)
Describe how you addressed the problem using the guide below:
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How are you designing and iterating your product to include those who are most directly affected and harmed by TFGBV? (Consideration will be given to products that demonstrate the use of participatory approaches to design) (100 words)
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Adding to learning: How does your work build on what has come before and add to the current knowledge in the field? (100 words)
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How has your work taken a feminist framework into account? (100 words)
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Fair use for data practices: What are your data privacy practices, and how are you ensuring freedom from surveillance? (100 words)
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How are you taking responsibility for user safety in the design and use of your product and service? (100 words)
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How do your users have control over their online experiences and tools to protect themselves? How easy to find and how effective are these tools? (100 words)
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Which practices do you have in place to ensure transparency and accountability? (100 words)
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Based on your problem statement, how have you ensured that the product meets the needs and demonstrates impact? (100 words)
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How do you ensure accessibility for users with disabilities, low connectivity, or limited literacy?
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Your response to these questions may be a candidate for both internal and publicly-facing databases through the Safety Showcase to highlight organizations and products seeking to ensure TFGBV Safety-By-Design. Are you willing to have your answers shared publicly? (Y/N)
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Share Your Product:
Provide a link to your website, prototype, or demo. You may also include screenshots or a short description of how it works.
Guidance on Applications
Who Should Apply?
We want to hear and learn from anyone who is working to build a safer and more empowering online space for women, girls, people with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ individuals in all their diversity. If you have a product that you would like us to learn more about and to connect with others in the field, please apply.
What kinds of solutions should be sent?
The Asia Safety Showcase, we are seeking demonstrations of technology products that prevent, respond to, or otherwise address TFGBV. Solutions may include but are not limited to: tech policies, products, features, models and algorithms, audit frameworks, reporting mechanisms, and mitigative strategies.
Stages: This Open Call will have three rounds:
I) Expressions of Interest
II) Finalists selected to complete the UNFPA Assessment Tool
III) Finalists interviews with Coalition Partners
Timeline
This Open Call for submissions will have three rounds:
Round 1: Expressions of Interest - November 2025
Round 2: Self-Assessment with UNFPA Assessment Tool - December 2025
Round 3: Interviews between finalists and Coalition Partners - December 2025
We hope to announce the finalists for the Asia Showcase at an event in early 2026. By highlighting examples of safety-by-design in tech we want to foster a community or practice to inspire and support an industry shift towards safety by design, in turn helping to facilitate safe freedom of expression online
What is meant by “Participatory Design?”
Use a participatory/inclusive approach by safely incorporating knowledge and feedback from victims /survivors, NGOs, and others working directly with victims/survivors and perpetrators, including the most marginalized.
I need to add more information. Can I share additional resources?
In your responses to the application, you are welcome to include links to additional information; however, we are committed to reviewing the text responses in the application and encourage you to be brief and clear with your description. This is helpful for our reviewers and for the work in the field overall!
Who is reviewing these applications?
The review team is composed of members from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with contributions from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner and the Asian Development Bank.
What criteria will be used to evaluate the submissions?
All submissions will be considered according to the Assessment Tool for TFGBV Safety Showcase developed through UNFPA and based on the work of Feminist Principles of the Internet, Safety by Design Principles, TFGBV Industry Guide, Guidance on the Safe and Ethical Use of Technology to Address Gender-based Violence and Harmful Practices, Orbits, and The Feminist Tech Principles for guidance on building better tech.
What support is given to those products that receive recognition?
The final selected applicants will be featured at the Asia Safety Showcase in Bangkok in January 2026, where they will present their products. The event will serve to highlight the winners, who will deliver impactful TED-Talk style presentations, a format that provides visibility and exposure of their innovative products and solutions, and effectively disseminates best practice.
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Contact
UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office
Supporters
Supporters of the Asia Safety Showcase comprise the Asian Development Bank, Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Digital Rights Foundation, Numun Fund, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
