Health
Women urged to speak out against online violence
By Toheeb Omotayo
Women and girls have been urged to speak out and seek justice when subjected to technology-facilitated gender-based violence rather than suffer in silence or abandon the pursuit of justice.
The call was made on Friday at a workshop organised by the Webfala Digital Skills for All Initiative in Ilorin, Kwara State, where stakeholders examined the impact of technology-facilitated gender-based violence on women and its potential to undermine their participation in the 2027 general elections.
The workshop, themed, “Digital Voices: Empowering Nigerian Women Against TFGBV,” brought together young women in politics, public leadership and the media, among other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said victims of gender-based violence and their families often abandon the pursuit of justice because of fear, stigma and social pressure.
She said such silence often emboldened perpetrators, urging victims to report abuse to the appropriate authorities.
“Many people unknowingly leave their digital lives completely exposed. Today, our phones are our homes. Our social media accounts are our identities. Our online presence deserves equal protection.
“Digital safety is personal safety because violence no longer requires physical contact,” she said.
Ejire-Adeyemi noted that women increasingly depend on digital platforms for business, education, healthcare, banking, politics, relationships and entertainment, making online safety an important component of personal security.
She said victims of online abuse often remained silent because they feared being blamed, judged or disbelieved, stressing the need for families and friends to support victims rather than discourage them from seeking justice.
The police spokesperson assured participants that the Nigeria Police Force would continue to investigate cyber-enabled crimes, preserve digital evidence, apprehend perpetrators and collaborate with relevant agencies to protect victims.
She also encouraged victims to preserve evidence of online abuse, including relevant messages and other digital records, and report incidents promptly.
Ejire-Adeyemi said existing laws, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, provided legal protections that could be used in addressing various forms of abuse.
She called for stronger enforcement of laws protecting women from online violence, while urging technology companies to strengthen reporting mechanisms and act promptly against abusive content.
The police officer also called on schools to promote digital citizenship and urged parents to pay attention to their children’s online activities.
“Technology should create opportunities, not fear. Protecting women online is a shared responsibility involving government, families, schools, technology companies, civil society and every Nigerian,” she added.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, Dorothy Njemanze, said technology-facilitated gender-based violence could have serious psychological and social consequences for victims.
She identified depression, anxiety, fear, isolation, shame, damaged careers and strained relationships among the possible consequences of online abuse, stressing the need for stronger collaboration among relevant stakeholders to address the problem.
Njemanze said the psychological impact of digital abuse should not be underestimated, particularly when victims were subjected to prolonged harassment, threats, public humiliation or the non-consensual circulation of personal information.
A women’s advocate and Founder of Females Around The World, Abigail Badakin, urged women to improve their digital literacy and take greater precautions when using online platforms.
She advised women to limit the personal information they disclose online, use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
Badakin also urged women to verify online identities, exercise caution when communicating with strangers and report suspicious online activities promptly.
She cautioned women against sharing intimate images under pressure, stressing the importance of understanding the potential risks associated with the digital circulation of personal information.
Earlier, the Project Lead of the initiative, Joy Ajibola, said Nigerian women were increasingly exposed to technology-facilitated gender-based violence, particularly during periods of heightened political activity.
She said online harassment, smear campaigns and other forms of digital attacks could discourage women from seeking elective positions or participating actively in public life.
Ajibola said the workshop was designed to equip young women with practical knowledge to recognise, prevent and respond to forms of online abuse, including cyberstalking, doxing, sexist harassment and catfishing.
She added that empowering women with digital safety knowledge was essential to ensuring that they could participate in politics, leadership and public discourse without fear of intimidation or abuse in the digital space.
The stakeholders called for sustained public education, stronger institutional responses and greater collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations, technology companies, families and communities to create safer digital spaces for women and girls.
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