NGO SEEKS Technology-Driven Response to Rights Abuses

A non-governmental organisation (NSO) has called for a technology-driven response to rights abuses against women and children in Nigeria.

It advocated the use of digital tools to monitor violations, strengthen law enforcement and connect victims with support services.

The call was made by the Inclusive Futures Initiative (IFI) in a report titled, “Mapping the Women and Children’s Rights Ecosystem in Nigeria”, presented by IFI executive director, Lucy Okonkwo, at an event in Abuja.

Okonkwo said civic technology, data-driven advocacy and community engagement could help address gaps in the protection of women and children.

She identified child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), child labour, gender-based violence and digital exploitation as major challenges affecting women and children in the country.

According to the report, despite existing laws and the work of civil society organisations (CSOs), inconsistencies in legal frameworks and gaps in implementation continue to undermine efforts to protect victims.

It noted that the Child’s Rights Act 2003 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 provide legal frameworks for protection, but differences in state-level implementation and prevailing sociocultural practices remain obstacles to enforcement.

The report estimated that 20 million women and girls in Nigeria had undergone FGM, while 24.6 million children aged between five and 17 were engaged in child labour. It also estimated that 24 million girls and women had been married before the age of 18.

It further warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence and social media had created additional risks, including digital exploitation and image-based sexual abuse.

To address these challenges, the report recommended an integrated data system linking the National Human Rights Commission, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, sexual assault referral centres, state ministries, and civil society organisations.

It said such a system, with adequate privacy safeguards, could help track rights violations, identify areas with high incidences of abuse, and guide the allocation of resources.

The report also recommended mobile and web-based platforms to enable victims and members of the public to report violations, access legal aid, and document cases of abuse.

It called for community-based data collection involving health workers, teachers, and local leaders, supported by secure digital applications.

IFI board member Adenike Aloba said the organisation’s knowledge products highlighted the connections between rights violations, policies, investments, and interventions.

“We want to provide a stronger evidence base for asking better questions, making better decisions, and finding opportunities to act together,” she said.

Luminate Group Chief Executive Officer Melanie Hui said the organisation remained committed to working with groups addressing digital rights violations across different regions.

Luminate Regional Director Toyin Akinniyi called for stronger institutions, adequate funding, and coordinated interventions to ensure that laws and policies translated into effective protection for women and children.