Women in Diplomacy: Media and Digital Violence

By Kristine Baekgaard & Amal Khan

This Women in Diplomacy policy brief - building on the wider 2026 research report Strengthening the Representation of Women in Diplomacy: Lessons from the Field - examines how the rapid expansion of the digital environment is creating new barriers to gender equality in diplomacy. The paper focuses on technology-facilitated gender-based violence, online abuse, and harmful media dynamics that disproportionately affect women diplomats, limiting their participation and visibility. While recognising the opportunities that digital technologies offer for diplomacy and international cooperation, the brief argues that these benefits can only be realised if digital spaces are made safer and more inclusive. It presents targeted policy recommendations to help diplomatic institutions respond to emerging digital challenges and better protect women working in diplomacy.