As more and more countries enforce lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19, the rates of sexual and gender-based violence around the world seem to be increasing. Berhan Taye, joins us to discuss how technology can be exploited to mitigate and respond to sexual and gender based violence in crisis situations, as well as how it can be used to provide solutions.

Through her research, Berhan explores the relationship between emerging technologies such as AI and drones and how they affect social justice. She has done research on gender and the impact of technologies on women and gender equality. This has involved looking at how GBV happens online and how technology can be harnessed to mitigate its impacts.

Through her work at Access Now’s #KeepItOn campaign, she raises awareness and defends the digital rights of users, especially those most at risk which includes women and girls. The global campaign aims at stopping internet shutdowns, and is a coalition of more than 150 member organizations from across the world. She also engages in policy work on issues relating to prevention of Internet shutdown in the continent and beyond.

Before joining Access Now, she was a researcher for the Technology for Social Justice Field Scan project where she investigated the tech and social justice space in the U.S. Before that, she was a Ford-Mozilla Open Web Fellow (2016-2017) with Research Action Design and Open Technology Institute.

Berhan previously worked with the Alliance for Affordable Internet, researching the gender digital divide in Kenya and at the IGAD’s Conflict Early Warning and Early Response Center mitigating violent conflict in East Africa. She has also conducted research on transitional justice and criminal violence at the University of Notre Dame and engaged legislative processes related to land rights in Cape Town, South Africa.