NGO Demands Strict Laws For Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

The Women Supporting Women Network (WSWN) has called on the Nigerian Federal government and other governments to enforce strict laws to end digital and all forms of violence against women and girls in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

The Network in a statement issued yesterday by its founder  Toyin Omozuwa, made this known  in line with the celebration of  International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, usually observed on November 25. This event was established by the United Nations to confront the persistent harm, inequality and injustice faced by women and girls in every society.

According to Omozuwa, this global day begins the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, a worldwide movement that brings governments, communities, and organisations together to challenge every form of violence that limits the dignity and safety of women and girls.

She said that it has become incumbent on the Nigerian Government to pass and enforce laws that criminalize all forms of digital violence as well as strengthen data protection and safeguard personal information.

She advised the government to provide accessible reporting channels and ensure that survivors receive justice without fear or shame even as she tasked technology companies to make platform safety a priority for women and girls and remove harmful content quickly and consistently.

Omozuwa pointed out that there is a need to publish transparent safety reports and enforce community standards and donors and partners to invest in women-led organisations that defend digital rights and provide support for survivors.

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 “I call on individuals to speak out, challenge harmful online norms, support survivors and refuse to tolerate abuse in any form.

“Digital violence is now one of the fastest growing forms of abuse. Women and girls are increasingly targeted through the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, cyber bullying, sexual harassment, trolling, deep fake manipulation, hate speech, doxxing, online stalking, impersonation, grooming and other forms of digital exploitation.

“These acts may begin on a screen, but the damage they cause is deeply felt in real life. Many survivors suffer emotional trauma, reputational destruction, financial loss, physical violence and in extreme cases, death.”

She said further that “Digital violence is not virtual but real,” stressing that it is damaging and intensifying.

“As founder of the Women Supporting Women Network, I speak today with urgency and clarity. There is no excuse for online abuse.

She said further that Nigeria cannot afford to ignore this crisis, stressing that every woman who uses a phone or computer is exposed. She noted that women in public roles, journalists, professionals, creatives, students, activists and young girls face even greater danger.

She added that Women who already experience any form of discrimination are often targeted more aggressively even as she declared that “we must act now and we must act together”.