1. Authors: Fazal, J., Khan, S., Dad, N.
Online harassment: A retrospective review of records Digital Rights Foundation, Pakistan
Authors: Fazal, J., Khan, S., Dad, N.

2. Background: gendered harassment Background: gendered harassment
Social inequality and gender-bias: women in Pakistan
Review of literature - impact of cyber harassment on mental health worldwide
Dearth of research on cyber harassment and its implications on women’s mental health in Pakistan

3. Background Background: what we did
Need assessment through ‘Hamara Internet’ survey
Post-session quantitative research , cross-sectional design with convenience sampling, self-reported surveys measuring access to technological tools of communication, frequency of usage, digital lifestyles and perceptions, degrees of cyber-harassment experienced, digital literacy and awareness of legal rights.

6. Introduction: Helpline at DRF
The Helpline was set up in December 1, 2016 after a need assessment through Hamara Internet
The Helpline Support Staff: 2 call agents, 1 lawyer trained in local laws and 1 psychologist

7. Introduction: Referral Networks
Methods: Helpline at DRF
Referral Network: The referral network consists of other helplines dealing with psychological issues, Law Enforcement Agencies and relevant government departments (shelter homes and provincial women commissions)
Rozan Helpline for emotional health,
gender and violence against women
and children
National Response Centre For Cyber Crime,
Federal Investigation Agency

8. Objective
For Pakistan’s first cyber harassment helpline, we attempt to describe the callers emotional responses and reported effects on their mental health

9. Methods: review of operations
Retrospectively reviewed record from December 2016 to March 2017 Telephonic questionnaire: demographic information, but no personal identifiers collected A descriptive analysis and psychological review
Data was collected through cyber harassment Helpline using telephonic questionnaire(demographic sheet)
Helpline started operating from December 2016 and review of operations is from start to March 2017

10. Ethics: confidentiality & ‘no harm’
This research fulfilled the exemption criteria set by the MSF-ERB for a posteriori analyses of routinely collected clinical data.
Confidentiality was maintained by a strict policy of not obtaining or recording personally-identifiable information from callers.
Potential emotional distress from ‘reliving’ an online harassment incident is acknowledged and it was accounted for by providing counselling services and referral to dedicated mental health helplines

11. Results: an overview Total number of cases: 513
Total calls for descriptive analysis: 406
Total calls for psychological review: 50

12. Results: by gender 62% of harassment reported by women, of these:
87% of the women were calling for themselves;
7.2% were calling on behalf of a family members and
4.8% were calling on behalf of a friend
37% of harassment reported by men, of these:
59% of the men were calling for themselves;
29.8% were calling on behalf of a family members and
11% were calling on behalf of a friend

13. Results: Nature of complaints
Descriptive analysis of the calls revealed:

14. Results: Recurrent emotional responses
Total
50* (100)
Anger
45 (90)
Fear
47 (94)
Sadness
42 (84)
Self-doubt
20 (40)
Internalized blame
21 (42)
Helplessness
38 (76)
Guilt
15 (30)
Frustration
28 (56)
*N Total is the individual callers, however each caller reported more than one response

15. Results: functionality disturbance
Impact of cyber harassment
N* (%)
Total
50 (100)
Depression
38 (72)
Sleep disturbance
35 (60)
Insecurity
42 (84)
Mistrust and withdrawal
31 (62)
Generalized anxiety and paranoia
22 (44)
Suicidal thoughts
12 (18)
Chronic stress
37 (68)
Relationship problems
9 (23)
*N Total is the individual callers, however each caller reported more than one response

16. Conclusion
Cyber harassment is experienced by both men and women across Pakistan. Victims of cyber harassment report emotional responses and effects on their mental health as well as social well-being. This is a result of the suffering they have undergone but are not willing to share. Seeking care is problematic due to the stigma attached to victim blaming/shaming.

17. Programmatic Implications: for DRF
Cyber harassment awareness and Privacy and data protection training for
Legal agencies, schools, college and university students, organizations (NGOs, start-ups, CSOs), human rights activists, journalists, lawyers and marginalized communities.
Victim identification training is additionally going to be provided to Federal Investigation Agency (mental health and gender sensitivity)

18. Acknowledgements MSF: Dr. Safieh Shah ( Consultant )
DRF: Lauvat Zahid, Hija Kamran, Seerat Khan, Hyra Basit