From Conversation to Action: Insights from the HeForShe Summit on Safe Digital Spaces

“Women and girls are subjected daily to harassment, abuse, and discrimination across digital spaces. We must take bold action against online violence and misogyny – and engaging men and boys is essential to confronting harmful digital behavior. HeForShe reflects the growing recognition that gender equality is both a shared responsibility and a shared reward” 

Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director.  

24 September 2025 - At the recent HeForShe Summit, leaders from government, business, civil society, and the arts came together not simply to diagnose the challenges of the digital age, but to propose tangible solutions for a safer, more equal future. What emerged was a powerful reminder that gender equality must be pursued in every space we inhabit, including the online worlds where new generations are forming their identities.

Digital platforms are shaping how young people see themselves and their relationships. As H.E. Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations warned, 

“The internet is shaping how young people see themselves and their relationships. Too often, this influence is toxic—exploiting insecurity and grievance, casting men as victims, and normalizing misogyny, sometimes under the guise of entertainment. Algorithms designed for profit, not safety, can redirect boys from harmless searches on gaming or fitness toward misogynistic and extremist content”

— H.E. Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations

Yet, the consensus in the room was that this trend can be reversed if we mobilize collectively. Solutions are possible through policy reforms, industry accountability, cultural change, and the creation of healthier spaces for boys and men. Vodafone, as HeForShe Champion Joakim Reiter explained, now blocks tens of thousands of attempts every single day to access harmful material — proof that industries can act decisively when accountability is demanded. 

“This is a fundamental battle we’re facing: we have allowed our digital public squares to be captured and reclaiming them will require loud voices and massive mobilization to put the genie back in the bottle.” 

— Joakim Reiter, HeForShe Champion and Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer of Vodafone Group

Governments, too, are responding. Australia’s Empowering Women and Girls in Sport Integrity Program is working to address abuse both online and offline, protecting athletes while inspiring young girls. In addition, H.E. Pedro Sánchez made a powerful commitment, pledging resources and international cooperation to counter harmful narratives online.

“We are witnessing a drift towards radicalized discourses and attitudes, especially in young men, which are undermining gender equality and hard-earned rights. Spain is committing resources and supporting international alliances to promote counternarratives that emphasize positive, equitable and violence-free role models and to specifically address gender-based violence in digital spaces”

— H.E. Pedro Sánchez, HeForShe Champion and President of The Government of Spain

Civil society voices brought the human dimension. HeForShe Italy Advocate Gino Cecchettin, who lost his daughter Giulia to gender-based violence, reminded participants that change is born from 

“I stand before you as a father who lost his daughter, Giulia, to gender-based violence—just one year after losing my wife. No parent should ever be forced to grieve such a loss. From this pain, I chose not silence, but action.” 

— Gino Cecchettin, HeForShe Italy advocate and Founder of the Giulia Cecchettin Foundation.

Taken together, the conversations chart a path forward: reframing masculinity through inclusive narratives, confronting harmful online influence, leveraging gaming and storytelling for positive social norms, and empowering youth leadership. These approaches echo the work of the HeForShe Alliance, whose members have already reached nearly 40 million people with campaigns that challenge sexism and discrimination. The newly released HeForShe Impact Report 2025 captures the lessons of this movement over the past decade and calls for renewed collective action.

Digital spaces are now our public squares, shaping culture, politics, and relationships. To leave them unsafe or unequal is to compromise the very foundation of our societies. The Summit’s message aligns squarely with the call of the upcoming 16 Days of activism against gender-based violence: we must end digital violence against all women and girls. This requires governments to regulate effectively, industries to prioritize safety over profit, and individuals to model empathy and respect. Above all, it requires recognizing that gender equality is not optional, it is essential to the future of democracy, dignity, and shared humanity.