Centre Seeks Stronger Cyber Laws

The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre has kicked off this year’s “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence” with a call for tougher cyber laws and improved protection for women facing abuse online.

This year’s theme is “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”.

WARDC said technology-facilitated gender-based violence had become a growing threat, with women and girls across Nigeria experiencing harassment, stalking, non-consensual image sharing and doxxing.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the centre warned that digital spaces remained unsafe for many, limiting their freedom of expression and participation in public life.

WARDC noted that the Internet is not gender-neutral, adding that addressing online abuse would require legal reform, institutional capacity building and community-level prevention.

It highlighted its ongoing work, including pro bono legal support for survivors, strategic litigation, digital security training for activists and community groups, and research and advocacy aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s cyber policy environment.

WARDC urged the federal government to adopt and enforce gender-responsive cyber laws that criminalise non-consensual image distribution, doxxing and targeted online harassment. It also called for survivor-centred services such as hotlines, evidence-preservation support, free legal aid and psychosocial care.

It tasked law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and regulators to improve their handling of online abuse cases by preserving evidence correctly and protecting survivors from secondary victimisation. It also urged social media companies to speed up reporting and takedown processes and adopt safer default settings for women and girls.

“Digital spaces should expand women’s rights, not curtail them. During these ‘16 Days of Activism’ we call on government, tech companies, civil society and communities to UNiTE in ending all forms of violence against women, online and offline.

“Survivors need law, policy and practice that recognises the harms of digital violence and delivers justice swiftly,” she said.