On August 7, 2023, at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, presented her most recent report on “Gendered Disinformation.” The report explores the negative impact of gendered disinformation, especially on women and gender non-conforming persons, and its implications for the right to freedom of expression. The report seeks to clarify the distinct nature of gendered disinformation, which is both a strategy to silence the free expression of women and gender-nonconforming persons and a threat to their safety and health, as well as a possible form of online gender-based violence. The Special Rapporteur investigates the factors that drive gendered disinformation and its negative impacts, identifying significant gaps in knowledge and policy that should be addressed. Stressing that there can be no trade-off between women’s right to be safe and their right to speak, the Special Rapporteur promotes a “gendered response” to online threats, including by addressing the underlying factors that drive gendered disinformation and gender-based violence.

Access the report here.