Introduction Women with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face heightened risks of experiencing gender-based violence (GBV). The rapid growth of digital technologies has introduced new forms of violence, such as technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), which disproportionately affects marginalised groups. Despite growing awareness, the intersection of disability, gender and TFGBV is under-researched. This scoping review aims to map and synthesise the evidence on TFGBV against women with disabilities in LMICs, exploring the manifestations of violence, its key vulnerabilities and protective factors within these settings. Methods and analysis This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. A systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature will be performed in six databases, including CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Social Sciences Citation Index, PubMed and PsycINFO. Studies published from 2010 onwards, focusing on women with disabilities in LMICs and involving any form of TFGBV, will be included. The search strategy includes broad query terms to capture diverse experiences of TFGBV. The identified literature will be screened and double-checked for relevance by independent reviewers. Data extraction will focus on key themes such as study design, forms of TFGBV and the risks and protective factors reported. We will conduct basic content analysis, and results will be presented in tables and narratives, providing a descriptive map of the evidence. Ethics and dissemination This review will synthesise previously published studies and publicly available grey literature; therefore, ethical approval is not required. The findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication, presentations at relevant conferences and knowledge-sharing sessions with stakeholders working in the field of disability and GBV prevention. The review will inform future research and interventions aimed at addressing TFGBV in LMICs. Trial registration details Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GZ2UR).

Background: Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) refers to acts of harm enabled or intensified through digital platforms, negatively affecting women’s rights, safety and well-being. Women with disabilities are at heightened risk because of the intersection of ableism and gender inequality. However, limited evidence exists on how TFGBV manifests and impacts this population, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objectives: This scoping review aimed to map existing research on TFGBV against women with disabilities in LMICs, identify common patterns and explore intersections with broader structural vulnerabilities. Method: Using the PRISMA-ScR framework, we searched seven academic databases and grey literature published between 2010 and 2024. Eligible studies focused on women in LMICs and involved TFGBV through consumer digital technologies. Data were charted and deductively analysed using adapted frameworks from prior TFGBV literature. Results: From 4738 records screened, 43 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most explored how digital tools enabled violence with offline consequences. None focused exclusively on women with disabilities, though some included them. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence impacts were wide-ranging, with LGBTQ+ individuals, rural populations and low-income groups facing intersecting risks. Conclusion: This review highlights a gap in research on TFGBV among women with disabilities in LMICs. Future studies must centre intersectional, inclusive and survivor-informed approaches. Contribution: This review adopted an intersectional approach, recognising how disability, gender, poverty and other marginalised identities compound TFGBV risks. It highlights the lack of focused research on TFGBV against women with disabilities in LMICs and the need for inclusive, survivor-informed research and policy responses.

The rapid proliferation of digital technologies has transformed the landscape of gender-based violence globally. This quantitative study used an online survey to explore the experiences of women with disabilities in relation to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in South Africa. Findings from 204 participants highlight patterns across age, province, education, employment, income, disability type, and forms of TFGBV experienced, and how TFGBV may differ at intersections of these factors. They show that cyberbullying, hacking, and hate speech were the most prevalent forms of TFGBV, disproportionately affecting women with various disabilities. The study further reveals how socio-economic disadvantage, manifested in limited access to secure technologies, digital literacy, and support systems, intensifies exposure to harm and constrains access to justice. The study calls for inclusive, power-conscious approaches to research, policy and interventions that centre lived experiences of women with disabilities. Addressing TFGBV in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), therefore, requires not only legal reform and digital safety initiatives but also broader strategies for socio-economic empowerment and systemic transformation to end gendered–disability violence in both the material and virtual world.

Background: People with intellectual disabilities are generally not consulted in the development of public policies, which impact their lives, and little is known about how to best empower people with intellectual disabilities to enable them to participate in public policy processes. Objectives: Our article reports on developing a conceptual framework to support self-advocacy by people with intellectual disabilities in social and health-related policy development in South Africa. Method: Our qualitative study was conducted using empowerment theory and integrated the concept of Ubuntu as a guide and was underpinned by a phenomenological approach. Data were collected through a scoping review, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review protocol. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were analysed using framework analysis. Data sources were triangulated to develop the conceptual framework, using a process adapted from three approaches used to develop similar conceptual frameworks. Results: Data triangulation identified three core elements for self-advocacy: (1) personal development; (2) creating a supportive environment to facilitate the empowerment of people with intellectual disability; and (3) improved policy participation opportunities. Conclusion: Participation of people with intellectual disabilities in public policy decisions, which can improve their quality of life, can be supported by developing their capacity for participation and increasing policymakers’ understanding as well as facilitation of what is needed to support their participation. Contribution: Our study offers a framework for a comprehensive approach to supporting people with intellectual disabilities in participating in and influencing public policy processes that impact their lives.

The rapid proliferation of digital technologies has transformed the landscape of gen-der-based violence globally. This quantitative study used an online survey to explore the experiences of women with disabilities in relation to technology facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in South Africa. Findings from 204 participants highlight patterns across age, province, education, employment, income, disability type, and forms of TFGBV experienced. They show that cyberbullying, hacking, and hate speech were the most prevalent forms of TFGBV, disproportionately affecting women with various disa-bilities. The study further reveals how socioeconomic disadvantage manifested in limited access to secure technologies, digital literacy, and support systems intensifies exposure to harm and constrains access to justice. The study calls for inclusive, power-conscious ap-proaches to research, policy and interventions that centre lived experiences of women with disabilities. Addressing TFGBV in LMICs therefore requires not only legal reform and digital safety initiatives but also broader strategies for socioeconomic empowerment and systemic transformation to end gendered-disability violence in both the material and virtual world.

This resource provides an overview of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) as it’s experienced by women with disabilities. Particularly, we highlight stories of women with disabilities living in South Africa. The hope of this textbook is to be an education guide for women with disabilities, caregivers and loved ones, and service providers around identifying, responding to, and protecting against TFGBV.This project was made possible with funding from:The Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing;The Stellenbosch University Division of Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, and;The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI).