By Esther Onyegbula

As the world marked the 2025 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Tuesday, Project Alert raised alarm over the growing scale of digital violence targeting women and girls across Nigeria, warning that online abuse is fast becoming one of the most dangerous forms of gender-based violence.

Launching this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence themed “UNITE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” the organisation said technology-facilitated abuse is escalating at an unprecedented rate, leaving survivors exposed to long-term psychological, social, and economic harm.

Executive Director of Project Alert, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, who made this known in a statement, said despite growing legal protections, including the domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) in 35 states as of September 2024, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) persists and is rapidly evolving into new digital forms.

Quoting the organisation’s 2024 Womanity Index, she noted that 63 per cent of Nigerians have either experienced or know someone who has experienced SGBV, with the home identified as the most common location for abuse.

“Digital tools are increasingly being weaponized to stalk, harass and silence women. Women who speak out, lead in public spaces, run businesses, or simply participate online face heightened risks,” she stated.

Effah-Chukwuma listed emerging forms of technology-facilitated SGBV to include cyberstalking, doxxing, online harassment, grooming, sextortion, image-based abuse, and the spread of manipulated or deepfake content.

She described the permanence and virality of the internet as particularly dangerous, adding that “victims of digital violence could suffer the consequences indefinitely,” even when the abuse originates from seemingly harmless interactions.

Citing a recent case of an online business owner who was harassed during a delivery by a stranger and his spouse, she said the incident highlights how digital interactions can quickly escalate into real-world harm.

Project Alert expressed concern over the rising cases of femicide linked to digital abuse, stressing that women and girls must be protected both online and offline, in public and private spaces.

The organisation called on the government, private sector, civil society, and individuals to adopt a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach to tackle digital violence, outlining key priority actions: Government agencies to strengthen policies, enforce laws, and improve survivor-centered reporting systems. Technology companies to enhance safety tools and increase accountability. Communities and educators to promote digital literacy and safer online behaviours. Civil society groups to amplify survivor voices and expand support services.

Individuals, especially men and boys, to challenge harmful norms and actively stand against all forms of violence.

“Every comment, every click, every choice online can either harm or heal,” Effah-Chukwuma said. “As we unite to end violence against women and girls, we must ensure that they are safe in their homes, workplaces, communities, and across all digital spaces.”