GPI Warns of Rising Digital Violence, Calls for Stronger Protection for Women and Girls

Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI) Nigeria has raised concern over what it describes as an escalating wave of digital violence targeting women and girls across the country.

 

GPI made the call through a press statement, made available in Benin city, as the world observes the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, held annually from November 25 to December 10.

 

This year’s theme, “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” draws attention to growing forms of abuse occurring online, an issue GPI says demands urgent national and global action.

 

GPI noted that gender-based violence remains a major global crisis, with international statistics showing that one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence. In Nigeria, the situation is equally troubling. According to the 2024 Invictus Africa Report, 63% of Nigerians have experienced or know someone who has experienced Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

 

The organisation said digital spaces, once seen as platforms for learning and connection, have become hotspots for new forms of abuse. These include cyberstalking, online harassment, doxxing, image-based abuse, sextortion, grooming, and the rise of deepfake technology used to manipulate women’s images.

 

GPI explained that digital violence often extends beyond the screen. Survivors face long-term emotional, psychological, and social consequences, and in many cases, the abuse escalates into physical harm.

 

While acknowledging progress with the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP)—now adopted by 35 states—GPI emphasised that enforcement remains weak, stressing that many survivors still struggle to access justice due to inadequate reporting structures, slow prosecution processes, and poor handling of digital evidence.

 

GPI urged governments at all levels to strengthen policies, enforce existing laws, and invest in improved digital forensic capacity. It also called on technology companies to expand safety tools, increase transparency around user protection, and act promptly on reports of online abuse.

 

GPI encouraged communities and educators to promote digital literacy, particularly among young girls, while civil society organisations were asked to amplify survivor voices and expand support services. GPI further appealed to individuals, especially men and boys, to challenge harmful gender norms and condemn all forms of online and offline violence.

 

GPI emphasized that digital safety is a fundamental human right, adding that online platforms should empower, not endanger, women and girls. GPI reaffirmed its commitment to promoting gender equality and creating safe digital and physical spaces for women and girls as activities marking the 16 Days of Activism continue nationwide.

 

“As digital technology continues to shape our daily lives, collective action is crucial to ensure that women and girls can participate freely, safely, and confidently,” the statement stated.