Siblings Create App to Help Victims of IPV
Two siblings, Anamika and Anik Ahmed, at Dalhousie University in Halifax, are working on an app called “Mitro,” designed to aid survivors of intimate partner violence. The app is disguised as a recipe app on the survivor's phone. It includes an emergency feature that allows users to send a message and their location to a trusted person or the police. Additionally, the app can record videos and provide information about where survivors can seek help.
The app addresses the challenge of using technology to assist survivors while ensuring security and privacy. It incorporates data encryption and stores data on a secure server, allowing users to delete it. The Transition Houses Association of Nova Scotia praised the use of technology to support survivors but emphasized the need for security and confidentiality when developing such apps.
The app won $30,000 at an international competition, allowing the siblings to continue developing. Mitro aims to provide a discreet and effective tool for those trapped in dangerous situations, offering them a way to seek help and support. The siblings hope to release the app in Bangladesh by 2024, with plans to expand its availability more widely. Mitro also assesses a user's safety in their relationship and provides a safety plan based on their responses.
