From urban centers to remote villages, the internet has bridged gaps, offering opportunities for education, business, and social interaction.

However, alongside these benefits, digital platforms have also become spaces for the perpetration of gender-based violence (GBV).

Between January and May 2024, at least 6,142 GBV cases were reported across various Nigerian states, despite the existence of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

Alarmingly, the advent of technology and increased internet access has introduced new dimensions to this problem, giving rise to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).

TFGBV encompasses various forms of abuse enabled by technology, such as cyberstalking, online harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, doxxing, and other acts aimed at causing harm, fear, or shame, primarily targeting women and girls.

These acts are not only violations of privacy but also attacks on dignity and autonomy. Studies have shown a global increase in TFGBV, but data specific to Nigeria remains scarce.

Despite anecdotal evidence and increasing media reports pointing to its prevalence, the lack of comprehensive research limits the development of targeted interventions and policies to combat this emerging form of GBV.

Given Nigeria’s diverse socio-cultural context, understanding TFGBV requires localized research to illuminate its unique manifestations, impacts, and potential solutions.

TFGBV poses significant challenges to digital safety, mental health, and gender equality in Nigeria. Victims, predominantly women, often experience psychological trauma, reputational harm, and economic losses.

These effects are compounded by barriers to accessing justice and inadequate legal and policy frameworks. Public awareness regarding digital safety and support mechanisms for victims is also limited, leaving many women vulnerable to continued abuse.

The consequences of TFGBV are profound. Victims may feel forced to conform to societal expectations, often against their will, to avoid further harassment or stigmatization.

TFGBV can break the willpower of women, reducing their participation and contribution in public and professional spaces. The abuse often causes psychological harm, leading to a defeatist attitude, stalled ambitions, and diminished self-worth.

By confining women to societal stereotypes, TFGBV limits their potential and destroys ambitions. Victims frequently experience depression, suicidal thoughts, and stigmatization, which can have long-term impacts on their mental and emotional well-being.

Despite the introduction of the VAPP Act and other legal frameworks, Nigeria’s response to TFGBV remains inadequate.

The VAPP Act, while progressive, is not universally adopted across all states, leaving significant gaps in protection for women and girls. Moreover, existing laws often fail to address the unique challenges posed by technology-enabled abuse.

For instance, cyberstalking and online harassment laws are either outdated or poorly enforced, and there is a lack of specialized training for law enforcement on handling TFGBV cases.

Also, victims often face stigma and blame when reporting incidents, further discouraging them from seeking justice. The digital divide also plays a role, as many women in rural areas lack access to information about their rights or the means to report abuse.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) have been at the forefront of efforts to combat TFGBV in Nigeria. They provide critical support services, including counseling, legal aid, and public awareness campaigns.

However, their efforts are often hampered by limited resources and a lack of collaboration with key stakeholders, such as technology companies and government agencies. Technology companies also have a crucial role to play.

Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp are frequently used to perpetrate TFGBV.

These companies must prioritize user safety by implementing robust reporting mechanisms, moderating harmful content, and collaborating with local organizations to address abuse.

Transparency in their policies and accountability for failing to act on reports of abuse are essential.

The scarcity of data on TFGBV in Nigeria is a significant barrier to effective intervention. Comprehensive, localized research is needed to understand the scale and nature of the problem.

This data can inform the development of targeted policies, public awareness campaigns, and support services. Collaboration between academia, CSOs, and government agencies is essential to bridge this gap and ensure that interventions are evidence-based.

Way Forward

To effectively combat TFGBV, Nigeria must adopt a multi-faceted approach that involves government, civil society, technology companies, and the public. Strengthening legal frameworks is critical.

The government must ensure the universal adoption and enforcement of the VAPP Act and other relevant laws. Existing legislation should be updated to address the unique challenges of TFGBV, and specialized training should be provided to law enforcement agencies.

Public awareness campaigns are crucial to educate Nigerians about the dangers of TFGBV, digital safety practices, and available support mechanisms. These campaigns should target both urban and rural populations, leveraging traditional and digital media.

Programs that promote digital literacy and online safety for women and girls can help them navigate the digital space confidently and protect themselves from abuse.

Technology companies must be held accountable for creating safe online spaces.

This includes implementing effective content moderation, providing transparent reporting mechanisms, and collaborating with local organizations to address TFGBV. Victims of TFGBV need access to counseling, legal aid, and other support services.

Government and CSOs should collaborate to establish and expand these services, ensuring they are accessible to all, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is a growing threat to digital safety, mental health, and gender equality in Nigeria. While the rapid penetration of digital technology has brought immense benefits, it has also created new avenues for abuse.

Addressing TFGBV requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders to create a safer digital environment for women and girls.

To curb TFGBV in Nigeria, it is imperative to strengthen legal frameworks, raise public awareness, and empower women and girls with the tools to navigate the digital space safely.

Technology companies must also be held accountable for their role in enabling abuse. By fostering collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector, Nigeria can create a digital landscape that upholds the dignity, safety, and equality of all its citizens.

*Bakare Opeyemi Nafisat is the executive director, Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative.

The tweet had one purpose: to give people “a sense of the magnitude of the problem,” as inscribed on the image Milano tweeted alongside the famous tweet.

What was “the problem”? Sexual abuse against women. Specifically, #MeToo started because several women accused former Hollywood top guy Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment. The campaign also revealed that gender-based violence is the plight of almost every woman.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also agrees—globally, one in three women (30%) experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In addition, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)—the partial or complete removal of the external genitalia—affects over 200 million women and girls. No matter how you spin it, the stats are grim.

The digital era of violence

“Online and technology-facilitated violence against women exists in a continuum with the different forms of violence against women happening offline.” Adriane van Der Wilk, gender and human rights expert.

When used correctly, technological devices make lives easier and are excellent social awareness tools (Cue the Milano tweet drew responses from millions of women worldwide.). However, sadly, the presence of digital devices also means violence against women (VAW) is taking on new shapes. Women, more than men, disproportionately face cyberbullying, cyber violence, and online harassment.

As an avid Twitter user, I’ve seen several women harassed online with revenge porn, cyberstalking, sextortion, and sexist jokes. For instance, in January 2022, a woman accused Manchester United player Mason Greenwood of sexual assault, physical abuse, and threats to kill. She shared disturbing images and videos to back her claims against the 21-year-old.

Shortly after the accusations, Greenwood’s club swiftly excluded him from playing, which is ethical and legal because the police received a complaint. However many Twitter users (read football fans) made light of the situation through thoughtless and insensitive jokes. For many fans, the woman was simply trying to “destroy” the career of a young football player.

They didn’t spare any thought about the psychological effects of the incident on the woman. Rather, the fans were more concerned about their football club and the player who was the abuser in this case.

Greenwood’s case isn’t an outlier; sadly, it’s the norm. In 2020, a Twitter user, Oroboghene, accused another user she used to date, Tife Fabunmi, of rape and leaking her nudes. In his attempt to deny it, he posted screenshots of their chat where he admitted to raping her and apologised to her.

One would expect his admission of guilt would make people rally to her side with words of comfort. Instead, it led to an onslaught of attacks on her. They bullied her, slut-shamed her, and called her unprintable names. She had to change her handle and everything about her profile. But until today, they still use the incident to bully her whenever she tweets.

Oroboghene’s case perfectly summarises the culture on social media platforms. A woman was raped, yet the abuser had numerous allies. Like the tweet below, the rape incident isn’t a severe incident worthy of attention for some.

For many others, rape is another social media banter material. Irrespective of where you look, it’s almost a given that social media users will downplay sexual harassment/abuse cases against women. Therefore, making it hard for victims to share their stories.

Comfort’s case also reflects the cultural and institutional discrimination against women. It’s why random jokes and feuds quickly become “rapey” materials, like the despicable exchange between popular musicians Shatta Wale and Burna Boy early this year.

The institutionalised discrimination against women eats deep. And technology is giving it wings to fly.

Protect women at all cost

Women rights activists say, “women’s rights are human rights,” and they’re correct! More than any group, women are targeted online and offline—the rut is that deep. And that’s why it’s the responsibility of everyone to make the world safe for women. But how can we do that? Below are four ways;

1. Social awareness

Many untrue ideas about women float around the internet. As a result, it’s important to empower the right people to raise social awareness about women. For example, social awareness was one of the broader effects of the #MeToo movement.

After the movement went viral, it forced many men to listen and learn how to treat women better with the #HowIWillChange hashtags and more.

2. Listen

Listening is fast becoming a dying skill. Too many times, people are too eager to prove they’re right. Or worse, they’re better, and this frustrates meaningful conversations.

Social awareness is excellent, but it means nothing if you don’t listen. To do this, learn to have civil conversations, especially with women. And when women share their (sexual survival) stories, learn to listen—not shoot—first.

3. Stand against rape culture

First, let’s state some facts;

• There’s no justification for rape.
• Rape isn’t a “punishment” for anyone who refuses your sexual advances.
• Children (girls less than 18 years old) can’t consent to sex or any sex-related activity.
• You’re not entitled to any woman’s body.
• No is a complete sentence, and it means no.
• Always get consent before any sexual activity.

That said, rape culture is a menace in Nigeria. And this is because Nigerian culture is full of patriarchal myths about women and their bodies. This is why unlearning cultural and institutional bias about women’s bodies is the first step to standing against rape culture.

4. Prosecute offenders

Actions have consequences, including your interactions on the internet. Laws will bring order and responsibility. Therefore, the government and other relevant stakeholders must implement stringent laws addressing digital interaction to protect women and girls from digital gender-based violence.

Without these measures and more, we’ll continue to prevent women from reaching their potential. Therefore, as we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11th, we must remember our collective responsibility to protect women and girls from gender-based violence in this digital era.

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*Bakare Opeyemi Nafisat, Founder and Executive Director of Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative is an advocate for digital inclusion and education for women and girls in Africa.