Safe Connections program has helped 36,000 women and children receive free devices
Providing smartphones and other support to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence was the focus of an online event held this week during the 67th Commission on the Status of Women (#CSW67).
The parallel event highlighted the Australia-based Safe Connections program, which provides free cell phones to survivors who might not otherwise be able to afford a phone, or can’t use their original one for some reason, such as it being compromised by a perpetrator.
New phones are given because “the reliability of that phone is absolutely paramount,” said Karen Bentley, chief executive officer of the Women’s Services Network (WESNET) in Australia, who co-led the presentation. “It may literally be the difference between whether or not she reaches help and can call for help.”
The 4G phones are donated by Telstra, Australia’s leading telecommunication and technology company, and distributed throughout Australia through various agencies, Bentley said. Staff from those agencies receive training that helps them get up to speed about smartphone-related tech abuse by perpetrators and how to thwart it.
Original source can be found here.
