A/HRC/RES/38/5 Acknowledging the important role played by regional conventions, instruments, declarations and initiatives to eliminate violence against women and girls, Reaffirming that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, on online violence against women and girls, 1 Taking note with appreciation also of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression on the use of encryption and anonymity in digital communications, 2 Taking note of the report of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women on the activities of the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women,3 Recognizing that digital technologies can play an important role in empowering women and girls to exercise all human rights, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and in their full, equal and effective participation in political, economic, cultural and social life, Expressing deep concern at the continued prevalence of violence against all women and girls in all its different forms and manifestations worldwide, and re-emphasizing that violence against women and girls violates, abuses or impairs their human rights and, as such, is completely unacceptable, Stressing that “violence against women and girls” means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women and girls, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life, including in digital contexts, and noting the economic and social harm caused by such violence, Reiterating the need to intensify efforts at all levels and to engage with all stakeholders, including men and boys alongside women and girls as agents of change, to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres, including the need to challenge gender stereotypes and the negative social norms, attitudes and behaviours that underlie and perpetuate such violence, Recognizing that violations, abuses, discrimination and violence against women and girls in digital contexts, inter alia, harassment, stalking, bullying, threats of sexual and gender-based violence, death threats, arbitrary or unlawful surveillance and tracking, trafficking in persons, extortion, censorship and the hacking of digital accounts, mobile telephones and other electronic devices, with a view to discrediting women and girls and/or inciting other violations and abuses against them, are a growing concern and underline the need to address systemic gender-based discrimination through effective responses that are in accordance with human rights, Recognizing also that violence against women and girls, including in digital contexts, is a global phenomenon rooted in historical and structural inequalities in power relations between women and men, which further reinforce gender stereotypes and barriers to women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of all human rights, and that all forms of violence against women and girls constitute a major impediment to their full, equal and effective participation in society, the economy, and political and individual decision-making, as well as in leadership roles, hindering them from the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing further that violence against women and girls is a manifestation of gender inequality and discrimination against women and girls, and can impede their economic empowerment and impose direct and indirect short- and long-term costs on 1 2 3 2 A/HRC/38/47. A/HRC/29/32. A/HRC/35/3–E/CN.6/2017/7.