HeForShe Alliance Summit 2025 tackles online misogyny

The global HeForShe community came together for their annual Summit in New York, centred around a theme of urgent importance: “Equitable Masculinities and Safe Digital Spaces.”

The Summit highlighted how digital platforms hold extraordinary potential to connect, empower, and amplify voices. Yet they have also become spaces where misogyny, harassment, and disinformation flourish.

In response, the HeForShe Alliance reaffirmed their commitment to work collectively to tackle digital violence and reimagine safer online futures.

Earlier this year, Alliance members issued a Joint Open Letter calling for action against online misogyny. This underscored the urgent need for systemic solutions, urging technology companies, governments, and civil society to take responsibility for shaping safer online spaces.

By bringing together leaders across industries, the letter sent a clear message: ending digital violence is a collective obligation, not an optional commitment.

Joakim Reiter, Vodafone Chief Corporate & External Affairs Officer and Vodafone’s HeForShe Champion said: “Online misogyny is growing. It’s a crisis where women and girls face harassment, abuse, and discrimination daily. And it threatens to undo decades of progress toward gender equality.

“Earlier this year, Vodafone spearheaded an urgent HeForShe open letter on online misogyny, calling on tech leaders to act against digital violence. Many HeForShe Champions supported our five-point plan for change.

“But this is only the beginning. We can’t allow our digital spaces to be hostile to women. If left unchecked, this affects society as a whole.

“We need tech companies to act now to address the algorithms that amplify this harmful content. They must collaborate with policymakers and regulators to take responsibility for this crisis. Together we can ensure our digital platforms are safe, inclusive spaces for all.”

This work, and other initiatives, feature in the HeForShe 2025 Impact Report launched at the Summit in New York during the United Nations General Assembly 80.

The Impact Report highlighted Vodafone’s continued commitment to support people impacted by domestic abuse.

HeForShe noted the impact of Vodafone Foundation’s Bright Sky, a free to download mobile app and website that provides support and information to those concerned that someone they know is experiencing domestic abuse.

Last year, Vodafone Foundation’s 16 Days of Activism campaign highlighted the vital role that family and friends can play in supporting survivors of domestic abuse and signposting resources for support through the Bright Sky app.

The campaign reached 27.7 million people, resulting in over 200,000 people accessing the Bright Sky platform - more than any previous campaign.

The Bright Sky app and website have now surpassed 1.3 million downloads across 13 markets, providing users with a safe pathway to information and essential services. The newly upgraded Bright Sky website also makes it easier than ever to access practical support and information for anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse, or anyone who is worried about a friend, family member or colleague.

Across Vodafone’s markets, 250 allies against abuse have been trained to support survivors in our workplace. Through partnerships with Hope After Harm and Dr Jane Pillinger, every ally has been coached and given resources to help recognize the signs of abuse, and where necessary to respond and refer survivors to specialist support.

Lisa Felton, Vodafone Foundation Managing Director added: “We stand firm in our dedication to preventing domestic abuse and violence. In the last year, Vodafone Foundation has worked to scale our mobile applications that support survivors of abuse and harassment.

“The Bright Sky app has surpassed 1.3 million downloads globally. With the launch of a new, upgraded website, we’ve now made it even easier for those affected by domestic abuse to find the help they need.”