WARDC, partners pledge to tackle online abuse against women, girls

 The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and partners have pledged to tackle online abuse against women and girls.

This was disclosed during the unveiling recently in collaboration with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Kenya and supported by the United Nations Trust Fund (UNTF).

The report, titled: “The Digital Harm Effect: Confronting Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria and Kenya” was unveiled in Abuja. 

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

Akiyode-Afolabi stated the increasing misuse of digital platforms to perpetrate abuse across Sub-Saharan Africa.

She added that the impact of online harassment, cyberstalking, image-based abuse and other forms of digital violence targeting women and girls in the region is high.

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

Acting executive director, WARDC, Dr Princess Olufemi- Kayode, stated the need to educate the public.