Group seeks support for gender-based violence victims

An illustration to stop gender-based violence

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A non-governmental organisation, Veronica Anthony Foundation, has called on all stakeholders to unite against violence and injustice affecting women and girls in society, stressing that digital violence is a growing problem in Nigeria.

The call was made during a Global Digital Safety webinar organised by the Veronica Anthony Foundation and sponsored by Tovero Energy Limited, in partnership with Dev and Design, TechRise DTI, Cybersafe Foundation and YALI Akwa Ibom.

The Foundation’s Executive Director and Co-founder, Anthony Akpasoh, emphasised the importance of collective action against gender-based abuse, particularly digital violence, and commended partners and participants for their commitment to protecting women and girls across the world.

Akpasoh, while urging victims to speak out against abuse and help create safe digital spaces, called on the government, stakeholders, the media, civil society groups, technology companies and communities to amplify and condemn digital and gender-based violence by supporting survivors.

He noted that the Veronica Anthony Foundation—an organisation focused on youth development, education, health, clean energy and sustainable livelihoods—is ready to collaborate with strategic partners to fight gender-based violence in the country.

One of the facilitators and founder of TechRise DTI, Nseabasi Udondian, highlighted the often-overlooked consequences of digital violence, emphasising its far-reaching impact on individuals, particularly women and girls. She noted that digital violence can lead to emotional trauma, social isolation and physical harm, with many victims experiencing anxiety, depression and loss of confidence.

She said, “Digital violence is real, and it is growing, with women and girls across Africa experiencing harassment, stalking, non-consensual image sharing, doxing and other forms of abuse that undermine their safety, freedom of expression and participation in public life.”

Udondian stressed that the hidden costs of digital violence extend beyond individual victims, affecting families, communities and society as a whole. She called for a comprehensive approach to addressing digital violence, including education, support services and policy changes to create a safer online environment, while urging users to protect their digital identity by using strong passwords and avoiding sharing personal information online.

On her part, Detiem Tawo, Programmes Lead at Cybersafe Foundation, who spoke on digital safety tools and their usage, emphasised that anyone who uses technology is at risk of cybercrime.

She added that interacting with people across the world may expose users to internet risks and advised them to embrace two-factor authentication to secure their online activities.

Tawo provided detailed and practical online safety procedures and tools, explaining how they work and their best applications.

Another facilitator and Data Privacy Analyst, Motunrayo Adebayo, speaking on digital privacy laws, rights and policies, described digital violence as a growing problem in Nigeria, saying girls and women are experiencing online harassment, discrimination, cyberstalking, abusive messaging and other forms of digital abuse. She added that such incidents often go unreported, leaving victims feeling isolated, unsafe and unheard.

She noted that adolescents have been victims of cyberbullying and other online harms, yet many lack the guidance or protection needed to navigate the digital space safely, stressing that protecting their digital rights is essential.

“Nigeria must enforce laws that protect digital rights without undermining human rights,” she said.

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