The Digital Gender Harms Research Unit (DiGHRU)

A transdisciplinary university research unit as part of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime dedicated to advancing understanding, prevention, and response to gender-based harms occurring within and through digital technologies and online environments.

DiGHRU brings together the wealth of experience in SCCJ and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS), along with colleagues in the wider university, with external researchers, practitioners, policymakers, third-sector organisations, industry partners, and lived-experience experts to develop collaborative, evidence-based approaches to addressing current and emerging forms of digital abuse and inequality.

The Unit serves as a focal point for research excellence, knowledge exchange, and public engagement in areas including technology-facilitated abuse, online misogyny, incel and manosphere groups, image-based abuse, cyberstalking, AI and VR enabled harms, digital coercive control, online safety, social media gendered-harms, and violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The network resolves to:

Establish a recognised Unit of excellence for transdisciplinary research into digital gender harms and technology-facilitated abuse.
Develop strong transdisciplinary links with university research centers, including the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, the Police Academic Centre of Excellence (PACE), and the Centre for the Advancement of Equality, Gender and Inclusion (AEGIS), in order to foster collaboration, share expertise, strengthen transdisciplinary research capacity, and enhance the university’s collective impact on issues relating to digital harms, gender inequality, online safety, and social justice.
Foster collaboration between academics, practitioners, policymakers, charities, advocacy groups, and industry partners.
Increase the university’s competitiveness for external research funding, particularly within the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), online safety, digital justice, and technology ethics sectors.
Support the development of impactful, applied research that informs policy, practice, legislation, and public understanding.
Create an attractive and supportive environment for postgraduate researchers, including PhD and professional doctorate students.
Provide external services and develop Continuing Professional Development (CPD), executive education, and specialist training opportunities for professionals working across policing, education, social care, technology, healthcare, and the third sector.
Promote ethical, trauma-informed, and sustainable research practices, including wellbeing support for researchers, practitioners, and students working with distressing or sensitive subject matter.
Showcase and coordinate the university’s expertise in digital harms, gender studies, criminology, cybersecurity, law, psychology, sociology, data science, and related disciplines.
Promote national and international partnerships, networks, and formal memberships with organisations aligned with digital safety, gender equity, and human rights.

Mission statement

The Digital Gender Harms Research Unit (DiGHRU) is committed to advancing transdisciplinary research, collaboration, and innovation to understand, prevent, and respond to gender-based harms in digital spaces.

We bring together academics, practitioners, policymakers, third-sector organisations, and communities to generate evidence-led solutions that influence policy, improve professional practice, and promote safer and more equitable digital environments. Through research excellence, partnership building, global reach, education, and public engagement, DiGHRU seeks to position the University of Portsmouth as a leading voice in addressing the complex challenges posed by technology-facilitated gender harms in contemporary society.

Recognising the emotional and psychological impact of working in this field, DiGHRU is also committed to fostering a supportive and sustainable research culture by promoting researcher wellbeing, trauma-informed working practices, peer support, and access to appropriate wellbeing resources for those engaged in sensitive and challenging research areas.

Join DiGHRU

The Unit is open to any academic or professional with an interest in understanding, preventing, and responding to digital gender harms. If you would like to join the network, please contact Professor Lisa Sugiura [email protected] or Dr Amy Meenaghan [email protected]

Our members

Unit lead

Unit deputy lead

Media ready expert

Professor Lisa Sugiura

Professor of Cybercrime and Gender