A group of civil society organisations has called on the Federal Government to pass and enforce laws that criminalise digital violence, protect personal data and hold perpetrators accountable.
They said such laws would curb online attacks that silence women, limit their participation and discourage engagement in public life.
The call was made by a representative of the Advocacy Hub for Women, Adolescents and Children Wellbeing Initiative (AH4WAC) and women’s rights advocate, Adenike Badiora, at a programme in Lagos to mark the 2025 16 Days of Activism.
Badiora highlighted common forms of online abuse faced by women, including deepfake pornography, image-based abuse, online harassment, gendered disinformation and the unauthorised sharing of private images and videos.
She acknowledged that the Beijing Platform for Action has driven global progress, including stronger legal protections, expanded services for gender-based violence survivors and increased women’s participation in peacebuilding. However, she noted that major gaps remain, especially in the digital space.
According to her, while laws against gender-based violence have increased worldwide, progress toward gender equality remains slow due to factors such as conflict, economic pressures, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Badiora expressed concern that women’s representation in leadership remains low and that more women now live in conflict zones and extreme poverty. She said online bullying and attacks are increasingly undermining women’s confidence, visibility and willingness to engage.
She urged civil society organisations to promote online safety and responsible use of social media, stressing the need to make digital spaces safe and inclusive for all users.
In his welcome address, Chairman of NN-SLAM and member of the Kaduna State Maternal Accountability Network, Isah Gidalo, said digital spaces are now central to work, communication and opportunities, and must be made safer for women and girls.
The event, themed “End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls,” brought together stakeholders who agreed that protecting women in digital spaces is essential to achieving gender equality.