As the world begins the 2025 United Nations 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) is issuing an urgent warning: digital spaces—once celebrated for empowerment and connectivity—have become dangerous terrain for women and girls.
In a statement marking this year’s campaign themed “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” FIDA Global President, Ezinwa Okoroafor, said the rise of online abuse is deepening global gender inequality and threatening the safety, dignity, and human rights of millions.
“Digital platforms, while transformative, have also become spaces where abuse thrives,” Okoroafor said. “Cyberstalking, online harassment, and non-consensual image sharing inflict real and lasting harm, silence voices, and undermine progress toward gender justice.”
She called on governments, institutions and individuals to take “collective responsibility” for ending technology-facilitated violence, stressing that accountability, digital literacy and strong legal protections must be at the centre of global action.
“When technology is safe, inclusive, and equitable, it becomes a powerful tool for empowerment,” Okoroafor added. “Every action counts.”
Nigeria: ‘Digital violence is driving women out of online spaces’
In a parallel statement, FIDA Nigeria described digital violence as “one of the fastest-growing and most alarming forms of abuse today,” warning that technology is increasingly being weaponised against women and girls.
Signed by Country Vice President Eliana Martins and National Publicity Secretary Chineze Obianyo, the statement outlined a wide spectrum of online harms—ranging from cyberbullying and trolling to image-based abuse, impersonation, gaslighting, doxing and sextortion—each leaving deep emotional, psychological and reputational scars.
FIDA Nigeria said the mounting wave of digital intimidation has forced many women and girls to withdraw from online platforms entirely, depriving them of learning, earning, leadership and innovation opportunities.
“The erosion of confidence undermines their rights to free expression, privacy, and participation,” the group said. “It also stalls national efforts toward gender equality and inclusive development.”
Despite laws such as the Cybercrimes Act of 2015 and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, FIDA Nigeria lamented that poor enforcement, anonymity of perpetrators and weak accountability by tech platforms have created a climate of impunity.
‘Digital Violence Is Not Free Speech—It Is Violence’
As the 2025 campaign kicks off, FIDA is demanding decisive action from governments, law enforcement, tech companies and civil society.
FIDA Nigeria urged authorities to enforce existing laws, prosecute offenders swiftly, and adopt survivor-centred approaches. It called on technology companies to strengthen content moderation, enforce community standards, and educate users about digital safety and reporting tools.
“Digital violence must never be trivialised or dismissed as free speech,” the organisation said. “The safety of women and girls cannot end at the click of a button.”
Both FIDA Global and FIDA Nigeria insist that online spaces must uphold the same standards of dignity, privacy and respect that apply offline—and that eliminating digital abuse is essential to safeguarding human rights in the digital age.
