Women Supporting Women Network (WSWN), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has called for urgent national action to end digital violence against women and girls.
The NGO made the call as part of its message to mark international day for elimination of violence against women.
In a press statement signed and released in Abuja on Tuesday, Toyin Omozuwa, Founder of the WSWN urged the Federal Government to pass and enforce laws that criminalised all forms of digital violence.
She said government should strengthen data protection and safeguard personal information, provide accessible reporting channels and ensure that survivors received justice without fear or shame.
“I call on technology companies to make platform safety a priority for women and girls, remove harmful content quickly and consistently publish transparent safety reports and enforce community standards.
“I call on donors and partners to invest in women- led organisations that defend digital rights and provide support for survivors,’’ she said.
She noted that digital violence was not virtual but real, growing and causing untold damage, adding that there was no excuse for online abuse.
She said it was neither culture, technology, silence nor the anonymity of the abuser.
According to her, Nigeria cannot afford to ignore this crisis, and that every woman who uses a phone or computer is exposed.
Omozuwa pointed out that women in public roles, journalists, professionals, creatives, students, activists and young girls faced even greater danger.
She hinted that women who already experienced any form of discrimination were often targeted more aggressively, while calling for collaboration and joint action to tackle the menace.
She recalled that the day was established by the United Nations to confront the persistent harm, inequality and injustice faced by women and girls in every society.
According to her, the global day begins the annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
She said it was a worldwide movement that brought governments, communities, and organisations together to challenge every form of violence that limited the dignity and safety of women and girls.
“This year’s global theme, “End digital violence against all women and girls”, highlights a growing danger that has silently expanded across online and digital spaces.
“What should empower women has instead become, for millions, a place of fear, harm and intimidation,’’ she said.
Omozuwa disclosed that digital violence has become one of the fastest growing forms of abuse.
She stressed that women and girls were increasingly targeted through the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, trolling, manipulation, hate speech, among others.
She said these acts might begin on a screen, but the damage they caused was deeply felt in real life.
“Many survivors suffer emotional trauma, reputational destruction, financial loss, physical violence and in extreme cases, death,’’ she said.
She argued that the safe digital world desired would not appear by chance, until built by collective action, courage and accountability.
“Let these 16 Days of Activism remind us that violence is not inevitable.
“It can be prevented. It can be punished. It can be stopped,’’ Omozuwa said.
