By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), in collaboration with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya, amongst other partners has stepped up efforts to tackle rising cases of online abuse against women and girls across Sub-Saharan Africa.

As part of the move, the organisation unveiled a new research report and commenced stakeholder training aimed at addressing technology-facilitated violence in the region.

The report, supported by the United Nations Trust Fund (UNTF), titled “The Digital Harm Effect: Confronting Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria and Kenya,” was presented on Friday in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Research Lead and Editor of the report, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, noted the increasing misuse of digital platforms to perpetrate abuse across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Akiyode-Afolabi said the report highlighted the prevalence, forms and far-reaching impacts of technology-enabled violence across the region.

She highlighted the prevalence, patterns and far-reaching impacts of online harassment, cyberstalking, image-based abuse and other forms of digital violence targeting women and girls in the region.

She said, ”Through the research, we engaged a wide range of participants and discovered significant gaps, including widespread stigma and underreporting.

”The findings revealed that many young women face severe online threats, with some even contemplating suicide as a result of the abuse they experience.

”We also identified cases where certain online business platforms, particularly those offering small-scale financial support, often below N100,000 have exploited women using digital tools.”

According to her, the project has reached 2,000 people across Nigeria and Kenya.

Acting Executive Director, WARDC, Dr Princess Olufemi-Kayode, stressed the need to educate the public, especially women and girls, on how to navigate digital spaces safely.

‎Olufemi-Kayode also called for the establishment of laws and policies to address emerging challenges associated with technological advancement such as artificial intelligence.

‎”Empowering women and girls includes educating them on privacy settings, responsible online behaviour, and digital etiquette on communicating and engaging safely online.

”‎Artificial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, and as it does, laws and policies must also evolve to effectively address emerging challenges associated with technological advancement,” she said.

Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr Adedayo Laniyi-Benjamins, emphasized on the need to ensure that technology-driven, technology-enabled gender-based violence is directly challenged, both in perception and in the delivery of justice.

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The Executive Director, Centre for Redefining Alternative Civic Engagement for Africa (RACE), Evelyn Ugbe, noted the growing trend of using artificial intelligence to manipulate images and videos.

Ugbe said that the trend had added to mental and psychological trauma for survivors of Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls (TFVAW/G) without access to psychosocial support.

”This highlights a growing concern that while young people have increasing access to technology, they often lack knowledge about its ethical use,” she said.

According to her, the RACE Centre is working to establish digital safety clubs in schools to equip both educators and students with the skills to use technology responsibly.

She said that the centre also established the Feminist Digital Watch, a safe space for survivors of online gender-based violence.

“The initiative aims to bridge gaps in access to mental health, legal and psychosocial support, while also creating platforms for collective advocacy, learning and empowerment,” she said.

According to her, the report is part of a broader project aimed at strengthening inter-generational movements to demand accountability, combat emerging digital threats, and promote coordinated action among women’s rights groups.