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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and its partners have ramped up actions against online abuse targeting women and girls, culminating in the launch of a pivotal research report and stakeholder training session in Sub-Saharan Africa at the weekend.
The newly unveiled study, titled “The Digital Harm Effect: Confronting Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria and Kenya,” was presented in Abuja. Backed by the United Nations Trust Fund (UNTF) and executed in collaboration with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya, the initiative seeks to boost inter-generational networks for accountability and collective action.
Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the report’s Research Lead and Editor, detailed the rampant misuse of digital tools for harassment across the region. “Through the research, we engaged a wide range of participants and discovered significant gaps, including widespread stigma and underreporting,” she said. “The findings revealed that many young women face severe online threats, with some even contemplating suicide as a result of the abuse they experience. We also identified cases where certain online business platforms, particularly those offering small-scale financial support, often below N100,000 have exploited women using digital tools.”
WARDC’s Acting Executive Director, Princess Olufemi-Kayode, underscored the urgency of equipping women and girls to navigate online spaces securely amid rapid tech evolution. “Empowering women and girls includes educating them on privacy settings, responsible online behaviour, and digital etiquette on communicating and engaging safely online,” she stated.
“Artificial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, and as it does, laws and policies must also evolve to effectively address emerging challenges associated with technological advancement.”
Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Adedayo Laniyi-Benjamins, called for direct confrontation of technology-enabled gender-based violence in perception and justice delivery. “We must be able to identify perpetrators, call them out, and hold them accountable. Where threats arise, it is important to report to appropriate authorities,” she emphasised.
Executive Director of the Centre for Redefining Alternative Civic Engagement for Africa (RACE Centre), Evelyn Ugbe, highlighted AI’s role in exacerbating trauma through image and video manipulation. “This highlights a growing concern that while young people have increasing access to technology, they often lack knowledge about its ethical use,” Ugbe noted.
She disclosed that her organisation is launching digital safety clubs in schools and the Feminist Digital Watch—a survivor safe space bridging gaps in mental health, legal, and psychosocial support. “The initiative aims to bridge gaps in access to mental health, legal and psychosocial support, while also creating platforms for collective advocacy, learning and empowerment,” she added.
The project engaged 2,000 individuals across Nigeria and Kenya, fostering shared strategies among women’s rights advocates, media, and other stakeholders to counter digital threats.
