Speaker Urges Stronger Tech-Violence Laws
House Speaker Corine George-Massicotte has called on the Virgin Islands to update laws and policies to address technology-facilitated violence after leading a session at the 68th CPA Conference in Barbados. She said the BVI must adopt a gender-sensitive legislative agenda, strengthen victim protections, and boost public awareness and institutional capacity to tackle digital abuse.
House Speaker Corine George-Massicotte has urged the British Virgin Islands to strengthen its legal and policy framework to address technology-facilitated violence, saying the territory is not yet prepared for the evolving threats posed by digital abuse. Speaking during the October 30 sitting of the House of Assembly, George-Massicotte said she recently led a discussion at the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Barbados focused on preventing and responding to violence against women that is enabled by digital platforms.
The session examined parliament’s role in prevention, protection and policy reform. "This must change," the Speaker told lawmakers, stressing that while the BVI has statutes covering some forms of violence, the legislation has not "sufficiently adapted" to new and complex ways violence is now being facilitated online.
She said social media, messaging apps and other online tools can amplify harassment, stalking, image-based abuse and doxxing — often with cross-border elements that complicate enforcement. According to the CPA, technology-facilitated violence is a major threat to women and girls worldwide.
Locally, conversations on cyberbullying and digital abuse have increased, but there remains no dedicated BVI law specifically addressing these offences. George-Massicotte called for a more responsive, gender-sensitive legislative agenda that recognises the realities of modern violence and protects victims while upholding due process.
She urged parliament to lead by shaping laws, but also by setting a tone of respect, inclusion and accountability across society. Practical measures she highlighted include expanding public awareness campaigns, improving reporting mechanisms, training police and prosecutors to handle digital evidence, and strengthening legal aid and victim support services.
The Speaker said the BVI can draw on CPA benchmarks for democratic legislatures and on best practices from other jurisdictions, including clearer definitions of tech-facilitated offences, harsher penalties where appropriate, data-sharing agreements for cross-border investigations, and mandatory digital-safety education in schools.
George-Massicotte reaffirmed her commitment to working with legislators, civil society and regional partners to develop a comprehensive, coordinated approach to violence against women in all its forms. "We must strengthen our laws, expand public awareness, and ensure that victims are both protected and empowered to seek justice," she said, framing the effort as part of building a society grounded in equality, dignity and respect for all.
The call sets a clear legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary term and signals closer attention to online harms that increasingly affect families and communities across the BVI.
Primary source: BVI News