48 Gender and Security Toolkit Image: N. Henry, A. Powell, A. Flynn, Gendered Violence and Abuse Research Alliance, RMIT University, Centre for Global Research and Office of the e Safety Commissioner. Impact This research on image-based abuse was used to support recommendations for legislative change across Australia and directly shaped the development of two new internationally ground-breaking laws on intimate image abuse. These laws include the threat to distribute/ share images, which the research found is often particularly damaging for victims: 80 per cent of victims surveyed reported experiencing psychological distress from this form of image-based abuse. This means that an image does not need to be circulated, nor even to exist, for an offence to occur (e.g. the perpetrator could claim they took photos of the victim without her knowledge or consent while she was sleeping or during a sexual encounter and then threaten to distribute these). In such cases perpetrators can be charged even where they later claim there was no intention to circulate, or the images did not exist or had been deleted. These laws also address “Photoshopped” images, making it an offence to threaten, create or distribute a doctored image of the victim. Beyond Australia, the research is informing legislative developments in this field in the UK, South Korea, the USA and elsewhere. The research has not only had a direct impact on legal reform, but has helped raise the profile of image-based abuse nationwide and beyond. There has been a positive effect on victims, with their experiences being validated with a clear message that the abuse was not their fault and should not have happened. The possibility that others might not suffer, thanks to legal reform and raised awareness, has had a positive psychological impact on victims. Furthermore, as a result of this and other evidence-based research, Facebook and other social media companies have taken steps to redesign their current tools and policies to improve takedown and reporting mechanisms for victims of image-based abuse. The researchers have also briefed police and members of the judiciary to inform practice. Lessons learned Ê Use media to generate support for legal reform, raise awareness and change attitudes (away from victim-blaming and harm minimization, for instance). Ê Adopt an intersectional approach to reform, recognizing that women, and among them those from marginalized groups in particular (such as LGBTI people, women with disabilities, indigenous Australians, ethnic and religious minorities, youth), may disproportionately suffer harm and insecurities. Ê Focus beyond the immediate need for legal reform and on the need for cultural shifts in attitudes, which can take longer but are instrumental if harm is to be effectively addressed. Cultural shifts can be facilitated through awareness-raising and educational programmes.