− HEALTH Abstract Interest in the use of chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs) to support women and girls i…± LIFESTYLE Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved beyond calculation and cognition into the domain of emotion and experi…+ SCIENCE Abstract Autonomous agents have long been a research focus in academic and industry communities. Previous res…+ HEALTH BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, has emerged as a transformative tool in…± EDUCATION Medical education faces a scalability crisis, where rising class sizes strain individualized instruction, whi…± HEALTH BACKGROUND: The irrevocable alteration of medical education due to widespread access to large language models…− SCIENCE Online violence against women (OVAW) is a growing global problem with deepfakes in gender-based violence as o…+ CRIME This paper presents a systematic review of research (2020–2025) on the role of Large Language Models (LLMs) i…
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Health·P Space·Evidence-backed problem·Published 2026-07-20

Enabling access or automating empathy? Using chatbots to support GBV survivors in conflicts and humanitarian emergencies

Abstract Interest in the use of chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs) to support women and girls in conflicts and humanitarian crises, including survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), appears to be increasing. Chatbots could offer a last-resort solution for GBV survivors who are unable or unwilling to access relevant information and support in a safe and timely manner. With the right investment and guard-rails, chatbots might also help treat some symptoms related to mental health and psychosocial c…

TRV-2026-0463Peer-reviewedPermanent record — cite & verify
Enabling access or automating empathy? Using chatbots to support GBV survivors in conflicts and humanitarian emergencies

"FMSC Distribution Partner - Health and Humanitarian Aid Foundation" by Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.

The quick read

Published 7 November 2025 in International Review of the Red Cross, this peer-reviewed analysis examined proposals to use LLM-powered chatbots to provide direct care, information and mental health and psychosocial support to women and girls in armed conflicts and humanitarian emergencies, with a focus on gender-based violence survivors.

It matters because extending care via chatbots could fill gaps where safe access is impossible, yet the paper finds risks of hallucination-driven harm and a thin evidence base for trauma outcomes in emergency settings, leaving uncertainty about safety, effectiveness and appropriate guard-rails in high-stakes deployments.

Main points
  • Paper examines LLM-powered chatbots providing direct care to women and girls in conflicts and humanitarian crises, focused on GBV survivors.
  • Authors note chatbots are proposed as last-resort when survivors are unable or unwilling to access safe timely information and support.
  • Review draws on expert interviews and adjacent fields including feminist AI, trauma treatment, GBV, and MHPSS in emergencies.
  • Conclusion states potential benefits of GBV-related AI-enabled talk therapy chatbots do not yet outweigh risks in high-stakes armed conflict and humanitarian contexts.
Problem

LLM chatbots supporting GBV survivors can generate hallucinations or errors that create unintended harms for individual users.

The rundown

The peer-reviewed paper reviewed interest in large language model chatbots as last-resort information and psychosocial support for women and girls in conflicts and humanitarian crises, including GBV survivors unable to access safe services.

Authors found some evidence from the global North for reduced loneliness, but less evidence for effectiveness in crisis counselling and treating depression and post-traumatic symptoms related to GBV in emergencies, and flagged hallucination-related harms.

Sources

Reader signal

How should this claim be treated?

The debate