Connect with us

Technology

One in ten girls faces harmful online experiences daily, according to new Plan International and CNN “As Equals” report

Published

2 years ago

on

The global report sets the stage for the upcoming UN Summit of the Future, where youth activists will demand action from tech companies and states to build a trustworthy internet

TORONTO, July 23, 2024 /CNW/ – New global research from Plan International and CNN’s “As Equals” series gathered insight from more than 600 young women and girls ages 13-24 across nine countries worldwide and has found that one in 10 girls and young women (11%) reported having harmful online experiences daily or almost daily, with almost 40% reporting they have been harassed at least once a month.

According to Plan International, the research report, Building Digital Resilience – Girls and Young Women Demand a Safer Digital Future, makes clear that social media is not a safe space for girls, young women and other marginalized groups and that measures taken by national governments and tech companies to tackle abuse and harassment to date remain “starkly inadequate.”

Two-thirds (67%) of girls and young women surveyed see themselves as primarily responsible for their online safety. While this may be their present reality, they also feel they cannot, and should not, be solely responsible for staying safe online, stressing the need for structured support from tech companies, governments, authorities and the wider community.

The research found that 75% of respondents had reported having harmful online experiences “at some point.” Almost half of the respondents (44%) reported seeing or receiving unwanted sexual images or videos, and one in four (25%) had faced discrimination or hate speech. The impact of these negative online experiences led to 35% of the survey participants reporting feeling sad, depressed, worried or anxious.

When asked about which websites and platforms they were encountering upsetting experiences on, most selected Facebook, followed by WhatsApp and then Instagram.

“With so much of modern life today requiring an online presence, from homework to lessons, finding employment and connecting with friends, it is vital that social media is a safe space for all children and young people,” says Kathleen Sherwin, chief strategy and engagement officer for Plan International. “Protecting girls and young women online, whether it’s from sexual harassment, financial scams or cyberbullying, is everyone’s responsibility.”

Similarly, a 2020 Plan International report revealed that six in 10 girls in Canada have experienced online abuse and harassment. To deal with online harassment, 19% of the girls surveyed in Canada stated that they would stop posting content that expresses their opinion.

“It is deeply concerning that in 2024, girls and young women still face persistent online harassment, prompting many to silence their voices,” says Saadya Hamdani, director of gender equality and inclusion at Plan International Canada. “As they navigate an increasingly digital world, this research highlights the urgent need for stronger protections and shared accountability. Girls have shown remarkable resilience, but they deserve more than coping mechanisms. Tech companies, governments and communities must take proactive steps and drive systemic changes to create digital spaces where girls can thrive without fear.”

For the 2024 Building Digital Resilience report, a total of 624 girls and young women ages 13-24 from nine countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, the Philippines and Timor-Leste) completed a survey and 73 girls and young women in Brazil, Malawi and the Philippines attended focus-group discussions about their online experiences. As part of the research, they also shared their solutions to make their online experience safer.

In September 2024, the United Nations General Assembly will meet for the Summit of the Future, where the Global Digital Compact will be a key focus and is expected to outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all, including the application of human rights online.

Ahead of the Summit of the Future, Plan International is working with girls and young women to call on tech companies and states to fulfill their duties to build a trustworthy internet and introduce accountability for discrimination and misleading content.

For research methodology, more information or to set up an interview, please contact Plan International Canada’s PR team: PRteam@plancanada.ca

Building Digital Resilience – Girls and Young Women Demand a Safer Digital Future can be downloaded here.

Editor’s note: This report is the result of a collaboration between Plan International and CNN “As Equals.”

About Plan International Canada

Plan International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships with and for children for over 85 years and is now active in more than 80 countries.

We stand with children, especially girls, wherever they are oppressed, exploited, left behind or not equally valued. We’re determined optimists, and we will continue to persevere until we are all equal.

Visit PlanCanada.ca for more information.

About CNN “As Equals”

“As Equals” is a CNN series that aims to reveal what systemic gender inequality looks like. 

There is a gendered dimension to every one of our major global challenges, including but not limited to: climate change, economic or health inequality, the rise of authoritarianism, mass migration or algorithmic bias. Critical, tenacious journalism is required to expose it all. 

With stories on underreported issues in underreported parts of the world, told by underrepresented voices, “As Equals” intends to spotlight taboo subjects, use innovative presentations and effect change. 

Staffed by a dedicated team, “As Equals” will broaden the scope of gender reporting and build on CNN’s already-established reputation for independent, world-class, mobile-first, thought-provoking journalism, with production across CNN’s platforms, including newsletters and audio, documentaries, as well as events. 

SOURCE Plan International Canada

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

CasinoPartiesLLC.com Expands Premier Casino Party Rentals in Manhattan, NY — Authentic Tables, Professional Dealers, Custom Packages for Corporate & Private Events

Published

8 hours ago

on

May 2, 2026

By

Top-rated Manhattan casino party rental company offers fully staffed blackjack, roulette and craps experiences to elevate corporate events, weddings and private parties across New York City

MANHATTAN, N.Y., May 2, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — CasinoPartiesLLC.com, a leading provider of casino party rentals in Manhattan, NY, today announced expanded availability and new customizable event packages for corporate events, private parties, fundraisers and weddings throughout New York City. With authentic casino tables, professional and entertaining dealers, premium play-money chips and signage, CasinoPartiesLLC.com delivers a turnkey casino entertainment experience that brings the excitement of Las Vegas to Manhattan venues.

“CasinoPartiesLLC.com delivers authentic casino table rentals and professional dealers throughout Manhattan, NY — offering turnkey, customizable packages that transform corporate events, weddings and fundraisers into high‑energy, engaging experiences across Midtown, Chelsea and the Upper East Side.”

Focused on delivering safe, legal and memorable experiences, CasinoPartiesLLC.com offers:

Casino table rentals: blackjack, roulette, craps, poker tables sized for intimate and large gatheringsProfessional dealers and croupiers trained in guest interaction and game managementFully customizable packages: themed décor, tournament-style play, prize support, and multi-table setupsPortable, all-inclusive service: setup, teardown, on-site management, and event coordinationService across Manhattan neighborhoods and greater NYC, including Midtown, Upper East Side, Chelsea, and downtown venues

“Our Manhattan clients want authentic casino entertainment without the hassle of sourcing equipment or personnel,” said Ismael Qureshi, CEO of CasinoPartiesLLC.com. “We specialize in seamless casino party rentals in Manhattan, NY, providing professional dealers and tailored packages that fit corporate budgets and private event needs while complying with local regulations.”

Benefits for Manhattan event planners and hosts:

Boost guest engagement with interactive casino entertainmentEasy logistics with single-vendor solutions for gaming, staffing and prize handlingScalable options for small private parties to large corporate galasProven experience executing events in Manhattan hotels, event spaces and private residences

Booking and availability:

CasinoPartiesLLC.com is currently accepting bookings for summer and fall events across Manhattan and greater New York City. Early reservations are recommended to secure preferred dates, table counts and themed packages.

About CasinoPartiesLLC.com:

CasinoPartiesLLC.com is a premier provider of casino party rentals in Manhattan, NY and the New York City area. Specializing in staffed casino tables, custom event packages and professional service, CasinoPartiesLLC.com helps event planners and hosts create high-energy, memorable experiences for corporate functions, weddings, fundraisers and private celebrations. For more information or to request a quote, visit https://www.CasinoPartiesLLC.com.

Media contact:

Ismael Qureshi

President

CasinoPartiesLLC.com

Phone: (917) 829-8481

Email: Sales@casinopartiesLLC.com

Website: https://www.CasinoPartiesLLC.com

Media Contact

Ismael Qureshi, ISH Events LLC, 1 (917) 829-8481, Ismael@CasinoPartiesLLC.com, CasinoPartiesLLC.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/casinopartiesllccom-expands-premier-casino-party-rentals-in-manhattan-ny–authentic-tables-professional-dealers-custom-packages-for-corporate–private-events-302760531.html

SOURCE CasinoPartiesLLC.com

Continue Reading

Technology

PS Hogan highlights investments from Spring Economic Update 2026: Canada Strong for All to support Canada’s sport system

Published

10 hours ago

on

May 2, 2026

By

CALGARY, AB, May 2, 2026 /CNW/ – In Budget 2025, we outlined our plan to build Canada Strong. Since then, we have moved fast to build the major infrastructure, homes and industries that grow Canada’s economy and create lasting prosperity; empower Canadians with better careers and a more affordable life; and protect our communities, our borders and our way of life.

We delivered concrete savings for Canadians while supporting key national priorities and keeping investments focused on results. We are maintaining a strong fiscal position, with the Spring Economic Update 2026 showing that projected deficits are lower over the fiscal horizon and that we are on track to meet our fiscal anchors.

The Spring Economic Update 2026 is the next step in our plan to build Canada Strong for All. It provides a clear update on the strength of Canada’s economy, giving Canadians confidence in our plan. It delivers targeted relief to make life more affordable, support workers and accelerate the construction of homes and major infrastructure. It also strengthens Canada’s competitiveness and economic growth while investing in strong, safe communities across the country.

Today, Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation, met with athletes at Foothills Athletic Park to highlight key investments in sport from the Spring Economic Update to build stronger and safer communities.

The Government of Canada is investing $755 million to support and expand Canada’s sport system, which will help athletes safely train and perform at the highest levels. This will increase sport participation across the country by strengthening national sport organizations, infrastructure and local sport communities.

Canada’s new government is transforming our economy from reliance to resilience. The Spring Economic Update 2026 ensures all Canadians can participate in building Canada strong and share in its success. Other key measures include:

The Canada Strong Fund — Canada’s first national sovereign wealth fund. This will invest in key, strategic Canadian projects and companies. While Canadians will benefit from these nation building projects through jobs, economic growth and greater security, the government is determined to ensure that Canadians also have a stake in the projects themselves. That’s why a unique and important feature of the Canada Strong Fund will be its new retail investment product. This allows Canadians to receive financial returns as we build Canada strong together.Team Canada Strong — a new nationwide effort to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new skilled trade workers by 2030–31. This initiative creates new opportunities for Canadians and attracts the workers needed to build more homes and major projects at speed and at scale.Building Stronger Communities — by making communities safer, more connected and more resilient. We are building more homes, getting tougher on crime and fraud and funding essential infrastructure, including small craft harbours that sustain coastal communities and local jobs. We are also investing to build healthier, safer and stronger Indigenous communities.

Our new government is building a Canada that is not just strong, but good; not just prosperous, but fair. A Canada that is not just for some, most of the time, but for all, at all times. We’re building Canada strong, for all.

Quote

“The Spring Economic Update 2026 builds on the momentum of our budget, combining strategic investments with sustained fiscal discipline to keep building Canada Strong for All — delivering prosperity today and strengthening our economy for tomorrow. At this pivotal moment in Canada’s history, we’re charting a course through the fog of uncertainty and global headwinds with strength, determination and ambition — and building one strong Canadian economy, by Canadians, for Canadians.”
— The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue 

“The Government of Canada is building Canada Strong by investing in what brings us together — our people, our communities and our athletes. By strengthening the foundation of Calgary and  Canada’s sport system, we are building a resilient economy and strong communities for all.”
— Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation

Quick Facts

The Spring Economic Update 2026 proposes to provide $755 million over five years, starting in 2026–27, and $118 million ongoing to Canadian Heritage to support Canada’s sport system to: Host and compete with the best: $50 million over five years to bring more world-class sporting events to Canada. Funding will be tied to legacy-building projects that deliver lasting benefits well beyond the events themselves. Facilities built or upgraded for major events will continue to serve communities, support grassroots participation and strengthen local sport systems for years to come. Support our athletes in performing at the highest levels: $45 million over five years and $8 million ongoing to help our athletes train, compete and perform, including support for better mental health and funding that will be linked to robust safe sport measures and frameworks. These actions will strengthen the sport system and respond to some of the findings of the Final Report of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission while the government continues to consider all of its Calls to Action. Get more Canadians involved in sport: $660 million over five years and $110 million ongoing for National Sport Organisations, increasing funding that has remained largely unchanged since 2005, so that they can invest in a strong and safe sport system and grow participation among children and youth nationwide.

Related products

Spring Economic Update 2026: Canada Strong for AllSpring Economic Update 2026: Key MeasuresSpring Economic Update 2026: Address by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue  

Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn. 

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Continue Reading

Technology

POVADDO AND PROLEGIS ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO PUBLIC POLICY PROFESSIONALS FOR OPINION RESEARCH

Published

12 hours ago

on

May 2, 2026

By

Partnership connects policy professionals using Prolegis’ modernized Congressional platform with Povaddo’s exclusive paid research panel, combining forces to serve the policymaking community

ST. LOUIS and WASHINGTON, May 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Povaddo, a leading provider of public opinion and policy elite research, has announced a strategic partnership with Prolegis, a nonpartisan technology platform serving thousands of policy professionals in Congress and the advocacy community. The partnership will expand the reach of the Povaddo Panel—an exclusive network of nearly 5,000 public policy professionals worldwide—while providing Prolegis users new opportunities to contribute their expertise to policy research.

Prolegis provides nonpartisan technology solutions designed to modernize Congress. Built specifically for the policymaking community, the platform serves as a natural intersection where policy professionals and issue advocacy campaigns meet, making it an ideal environment for connecting researchers with the experts shaping public policy.

Beginning this month, users of the Prolegis platform will be invited to join the Povaddo Panel and become eligible to participate in research studies tailored specifically for public policy professionals.

“There is no shortage of so-called ‘expert network’ firms, but Povaddo is setting the standard when it comes to building the most rigorous and credible network of public policy professionals in the U.S. and beyond,” said William Stewart, President of Povaddo. “What makes Prolegis the right partner is the quality and relevance of their community—these are precisely the professionals our clients most want to hear from. Prolegis users are actively engaged in policy work daily, making them ideal participants for our research studies. This partnership will meaningfully accelerate our efforts.”

“Prolegis exists to serve the policy community with tools that make their work more effective,” said Jim Gianiny, CEO of Prolegis. “Partnering with Povaddo allows our users to contribute their expertise in a new way and take part in rigorous research that helps organizations better understand the policy landscape. It’s a natural extension of what our platform already does: connecting policy professionals with the resources and opportunities that matter to their work.”

Launched in 2018, the Povaddo Panel was built to meet growing demand for research insights from individuals who shape, influence, and analyze public policy as part of their daily work. Over the past eight years, the panel has grown to nearly 5,000 public policy professionals worldwide, including over 2,000 in the United States. Many panelists are former elected officials, including former Members of Congress.

This partnership is part of a broader period of momentum for Povaddo. The company recently announced it is launching a quarterly omnibus survey among public policy professionals in the United States and Europe.

“Companies and other organizations that want to understand what public policy professionals think—whether about their brand or an issue they are facing—now have a new way of doing that. Our new omnibus survey among public policy professionals fills an important need in the research services marketplace,” said Brooke Hayes, Executive Vice President of Povaddo, who oversees the Povaddo Panel and the firm’s new omnibus research service among public policy professionals.

Additionally, Povaddo recently released select findings from its survey of public policy professionals in the U.S. and Europe regarding their attitudes towards AI. In an era when political consensus is elusive, this study finds widespread agreement within policy communities on both sides of the Atlantic that government regulation of AI should be increased.

About Povaddo: Povaddo specializes in public opinion and policy elite research. Founded in 2009, Povaddo is recognized as a trusted advisor to top-tier organizations seeking to navigate complex issues management, strategic communications, corporate reputation, and business transformation challenges. Most of the firm’s clients sit within external affairs, corporate affairs, public affairs, government affairs, regulatory affairs, scientific affairs, corporate communications, business planning and strategy. For more information, please visit www.povaddo.com.

About Prolegis: Prolegis provides nonpartisan technology solutions designed to modernize Congress. Built specifically for the policymaking community, Prolegis delivers innovative solutions, efficient tools, and engaging content, all on one easy-to-use platform. The platform serves Congressional staff, think tank scholars, and public affairs professionals, creating a unique intersection where policy expertise and advocacy meet. For more information, please visit www.prolegis.com.

Media Inquiries: William Stewart, +1 (855) 768-2336, stewart@povaddo.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/povaddo-and-prolegis-announce-strategic-partnership-to-expand-access-to-public-policy-professionals-for-opinion-research-302760432.html

SOURCE POVADDO LLC

Continue Reading

Trending