The cyber harassment helpline is the only dedicated cyber harassment helpline in the region in which it operates. Most approaches to online harassment are either grounded in the larger rubric of cyber crime (that isn’t seen as gender specific) or within the ambit of cyber bullying (that is positioned primarily at children and teenagers). The Helpline takes a unique approach the problem in that it seeks to tackle issue a problem of violence against women and gender-specific. Furthermore, the helpline takes a holistic approach to the issue—not confining it to merely an issue of the law, technology or mental health. There are several human rights organisations working on mapping and tracking the issue of online harassment, but very few of them are combining research and data collection with direct service delivery—combining government-oriented approaches with civil society solutions.

Future plans include expanding our legal network to become country-wide so that on the ground assistance can be provided to victims effectively. The Helpline also wishes to be part of global networks working on support to women and children in the realm of digital assistance. We seek to expand our reach areas peri-urban and rural parts of Pakistan through targeted awareness and promotional campaigns, as currently most of our calls are restricted to urban centers.