NHRC urges collective action to curb digital violence against women in Kaduna

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Kaduna State Office, has called for stronger collective action from government institutions, security agencies, technology companies, schools, communities, and traditional leaders to curb the rising cases of digital violence targeting women and girls.

Terngu Gwar, State Coordinator of the Commission, made the appeal on Tuesday in Kaduna during activities marking the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, themed “United to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.”

He emphasised that collaboration among all stakeholders is the only sustainable way to build a safe and inclusive digital environment for women and girls, particularly in Kaduna State, where online participation is rapidly increasing among students, entrepreneurs, journalists, and activists.

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Gwar noted that, while digital platforms provide opportunities for education, innovation, and social interaction, they have increasingly become spaces where women and girls face harassment, threats, bullying, image-based abuse, discriminatory algorithms, cyberstalking, identity theft, blackmail, online misogyny, and technology-facilitated exploitation.

He explained that these violations undermine dignity, restrict economic empowerment, limit civic engagement, and affect the ability of women and girls to participate freely in digital spaces.

He warned that digital violence is real violence because its psychological and social impacts are profound, often damaging self-esteem, livelihoods, and participation in public life.

He added that many cases remain unreported due to stigma, low digital literacy, and weak institutional response. Gwar stressed that digital rights are human rights, protected under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as national and international instruments addressing violence and cybercrimes.

The State Coordinator explained that the NHRC will continue to intensify awareness on digital rights and online safety, engage with youth and women’s groups, hold conversations on emerging patterns of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, offer free legal guidance, and work with partners to strengthen community reporting systems for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

He urged citizens to use digital platforms responsibly and to report all forms of online abuse, noting that the responsibility to end digital violence cannot be placed on women alone but requires unity among families, communities, institutions, and government structures.

Gwar concluded by calling for a Kaduna State where every woman and girl can learn, work, thrive, and participate without fear both online and offline.

He reaffirmed that the NHRC Kaduna Office remains open to the public for complaints and enquiries through its official channels.