Christchurch Call Turns Focus to Misogyny in Gaming Spaces

September 17, 2026 - 14:49

A major international initiative is expanding its mission to confront a problem that has festered in gaming communities for years. The Christchurch Call Foundation, established after the 2019 terrorist attack in New Zealand, recently convened its first action forum at Oxford University to address misogyny as a driver of violent extremism.

Dame Jacinda Ardern, who helped found the Call alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, delivered opening remarks that framed the challenge in stark terms. She noted that gender based violence appears in at least 40 percent of extremist manifestos, and boys who support violence against women are up to three times more likely to embrace violent extremism.

The statistics presented were sobering. Researchers identified 41 planned mass attacks motivated by misogyny across nine countries since 1989, with 32 of those occurring between 2018 and 2025. All perpetrators were male, with a median age of 23. Only 11 cases were charged as terrorism or hate crimes.

A workshop dedicated to gaming explored how the industry might respond. Participants discussed tools to help moderators identify problematic behavior before it escalates, and ways to reward positive community norms through in-game incentives.

The foundation faces a challenge in bringing game companies to the table. Only Roblox and Discord are members of the Call, and neither attended the forum. Organizers hope to expand industry participation as the initiative moves forward.