Inclusive and AI-powered chatbot supporting female victims of gender-based violence

NOOR AI Equal Access is a non-profit, multilingual AI chatbot that helps women and girls with disabilities access confidential information on disability rights, gender-based violence and referrals to verified legal and psychosocial services. It works offline, is available 24/7, and has served over 18,000 users and enabled 5,200+ referrals.

The Special Talent Exchange Programme (STEP), a Pakistani cross-disability organization working since 1997, operates NOOR AI Equal Access, a multilingual chatbot providing accessible information and referrals on disability rights and gender-based violence (GBV) for women and girls with disabilities. Launched in 2021, the AI-based service offers communication based on text/audio/symbols for diverse access needs. It works in seven languages, has reached 18,000 users and has caused a substantial increase in reported cases of GBV from rural users.

Problems Targeted

Women and girls with disabilities face high barriers to accessing rights and gender-based violence services, especially in remote areas and during crisis situations.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

NOOR AI Equal Access is an AI-powered, multilingual chatbot designed to empower persons with disabilities, particularly women, by providing accessible, confidential information on disability rights, gender-based violence (GBV), and the prevention of violent extremism. The chatbot is available offline, offers inclusive communication formats, and connects users to verified service providers such as legal aid and psychosocial support. The NOOR AI Equal Access chatbot does not directly connect to a live responder, but it empowers users by offering immediate advice and referrals, and by directing them to the appropriate authorities through the Equal Access application’s referral directory. NOOR AI was developed and implemented by STEP in collaboration with various national and international partners. It operates as a non-profit initiative across Pakistan and is available 24/7. Since its 2021 launch, NOOR AI has served over 18,000 users, 62 percent of whom are women with disabilities, and facilitated more than 5,200 referrals to GBV, legal, and psychosocial services, including in remote and conflict-affected areas.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

NOOR AI is operated as a non-commercial public interest tool. It is primarily funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other donor grants (85 percent) and by in-kind support from partners (15 percent). In 2025, STEP has been scaling the solution to additional provinces and marginalized groups, with plans for national expansion and services in 25 languages. The integration of sign language recognition is also being tested. NOOR AI is designed for replication with modular architecture and open-source flexibility. (#ZeroCall26)

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