The Kaduna State Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRinG) programme and Tetra Tech International Development, on Wednesday held a round table discussion to mark the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the event focused on tackling digital violence against women and girls.
The meeting, held in Kaduna, centred on the global theme ‘Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls’.
The SPRiNG State Representative, Mr Emmanuel Barau, said the four-year Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded intervention seeks to strengthen peace and resilience across communities in the North-West.
Barau said digital violence had become a growing threat to women and girls, noting that the programme continues to support partners working to eliminate all forms of discrimination and abuse.
Earlier in her welcome address, SPRiNG Consultant, Magdaline Musa, said digital platforms had become major spaces where women and girls face cyberbullying, harassment, impersonation, stalking, image based abuse and hate speech.
She said online abuse limits women’s participation and undermines their dignity, adding that stakeholders must work together to make digital spaces safe and empowering.
A representative of the Commissioner, Ministry for Human Affairs, Mr Umar Abubakar, said the ministry remained committed to protecting women and children.
He said gender-based violence was a global challenge but stressed that communities must work collectively to reduce its prevalence.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Mrs Juliana Joseph, Pilot Manager, Sexual Assault Referral Centre,Kakuri, who spoke on ‘Strengthening Community and Institutional Response to Digital Violence Against Women and Girls in Nigeria’.
Joseph cited a 2024 Gatefield report which showed that 58 per cent of Nigerian women surveyed had experienced online abuse, describing it as a serious and expanding problem.
She listed cyberstalking, online harassment and impersonation as leading forms of abuse.
She identified low reporting, stigma, weak digital safety skills, legal gaps and inadequate institutional response as major obstacles to addressing digital violence.
Her recommendations included policy reforms, improved digital literacy, mandatory online safety education in schools, stronger accountability for digital platforms, increased funding for women’s rights organisations and state and federal action plans on digital safety.
NAN also reports the round table formed part of the activities lined up for the 16 Days of Activism, an annual global campaign held from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 to raise awareness and mobilise action against gender based violence.
