Leveraging AI to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence (Case Study: Switzerland)

Achieving SDG 5: Gender Equality means eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls and ensuring equal rights, safety, and opportunity for all genders. One formidable barrier to gender equality is domestic violence, a pervasive global issue affecting nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide during their lifetime, yet most survivors never seek help due to fear, stigma, lack of information, or unsafe reporting channels. Traditional support systems, while vital, often lack the capacity to offer discrete, immediate, and globally accessible assistance.

In response, innovators have developed Sophia: a multilingual, AI-powered chatbot that uses data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to provide confidential, 24/7 digital support to survivors and victim-survivors of domestic abuse. Recognized with the United Nations’ AI for Good Impact Award 2025, Sophia exemplifies how data-driven technology can break down barriers to help, strengthen individual agency, and accelerate progress toward SDG 5 by enabling safer, more informed pathways out of violence.

Context and Challenge

Domestic violence ranges from physical harm to emotional and economic abuse, and is a widespread violation of human rights that affects hundreds of millions globally. More than 840 million women experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, yet less than 40% seek help, and of those who do, less than 10% only report to authorities. This is due to fear of reprisal or lack of safe avenues for support.

Victims frequently encounter systemic obstacles: overstretched social services, limited access to legal information, language barriers, and the very real threat of digital surveillance by abusers. Traditional helplines and support networks struggle to provide 24/7, anonymous, globally accessible assistance, leaving many survivors isolated and without ready guidance. In this environment, the need for secure, accessible, empathetic support mechanisms is critical to advancing SDG 5’s targets on ending violence and ensuring safe, equitable treatment for all.

Data-Driven Solution

To address these gaps, the Swiss non-profit Spring ACT (Action. Compassion. Technology.) created Chatbot Sophia: an AI-powered digital support companion designed with and for survivors of domestic abuse. Built on advanced natural language processing (NLP) and cloud-based machine learning infrastructure, Sophia provides automated yet empathetic guidance on recognizing abuse, understanding rights, accessing resources, documenting evidence, and making safety plans, all confidentially and without leaving a digital trace.

Technology and Capabilities

• Multilingual AI Chat: Sophia understands and communicates in 25+ languages, enabling access across cultures and regions.
• 24/7 Anonymity: Available around the clock via browsers like sophia.chat and messaging platforms, it supports anonymous conversations without requiring accounts or apps, safeguarding privacy.
• Natural Language Guidance: Using NLP and generative AI, Sophia interprets users’ inputs and delivers tailored guidance on identifying abuse patterns and taking next steps.
• Digital Safe Feature: Users can securely store text, photos, or recordings in a Digital Safe (an encrypted, private repository that helps victims preserve evidence for legal or advocacy purposes without exposing it to abusers).
• Localized Support: Sophia links users to local shelters, emergency services, and support hotlines, helping bridge the gap between digital guidance and real-world help.

Powered by Microsoft’s Azure AI infrastructure and text-to-speech capabilities as part of a pro-bono partnership, Sophia was selected from 320 global applications for the AI for Good Impact Award 2025 in the “Pro Bono Collaboration” category, which is a testament to its scalable impact.

Implementation and Results

Since its launch, Sophia has achieved remarkable global reach and engagement as 42,000+ conversations were facilitated across diverse contexts and situations, the app is available in 172 countries, demonstrating true global accessibility, and support is provided in 25+ languages, lowering linguistic barriers to seeking help.

These figures signal that thousands of individuals who might otherwise lack discreet access to support are finding a safe, immediate pathway to critical information and assistance. In regions where formal services are limited or may not be trusted, Sophia functions as a non-judgmental, privacy-preserving entry point into help.

The chatbot’s architecture and machine learning models are continually refined based on ongoing interactions and feedback, allowing Sophia to better interpret complex human language, contextual cues, and cultural nuances which are a crucial capability in addressing sensitive personal narratives.

Outcomes and Impact

1. Expanded Access to Support
   Sophia’s global footprint with tens of thousands of engaged conversations shows how AI can radically expand access to life-saving guidance beyond the physical limitations of traditional hotlines and shelters.
2. Empowering Victim-Survivors
   By providing information on legal rights, safety planning, evidence gathering, and referral resources, the solution empowers survivors with knowledge and autonomy; two key components of gender equality and personal safety.
3. Breaking Social and Digital Barriers
   Language, geography, culture, and access constraints have historically hindered access to help. Sophia’s multilingual and platform-agnostic design breaks down these barriers so individuals can seek help anonymously and safely in their own context.
4. Complementing Human Services
   Rather than replacing human support networks, Sophia augments them, offering first-contact guidance that helps survivors understand options and navigate next steps before connecting with local services, law enforcement, or counselors.

Conclusion

The Chatbot Sophia initiative illustrates how data, AI, and machine learning can be harnessed for profoundly human impact, advancing SDG 5: Gender Equality by making support for survivors of domestic violence more accessible, confidential, and immediate. Built by Spring ACT in collaboration with Microsoft and recognized by the United Nations for its global impact, Sophia has supported over 42,000 conversations and broken down barriers across 172 countries, demonstrating that technology can extend lifelines to people in their darkest moments.

In doing so, this data-driven solution does more than provide information as it offers agency, choice, and hope to individuals who may have had nowhere else to turn. As AI tools evolve, Sophia stands as a powerful model of how technology can be designed with empathy, privacy, and accessibility at its core, enabling survivors to navigate pathways to safety, justice, and healing, regardless of where they live.