The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, has warned that technology-facilitated abuse is becoming one of the most dangerous and fast-growing forms of gender-based violence, urging government, technology companies and communities to take stronger action to protect women and girls.
Speaking at the UN House in Abuja today during the United Nations and Partners Orange Lighting Convening to commemorate the 2025 edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Fall said the world is witnessing a new frontier of harm, reports The PUNCH.
“We stand together this evening in solidarity, hope, and in one clear voice for women, for girls, and for justice,” he began, addressing government officials, diplomats, civil society representatives, youth leaders, media and technology partners.
According to him, while violence against women is not new, “its shape is changing. It has entered our screens, conversations and digital spaces where we work, learn, and live.”
Fall described digital abuse as “real,” listing cyberstalking, sextortion, impersonation, and the sharing of non-consensual images as some of the threats women increasingly face online.
“Hate speech that follows women from one platform to another. Each message meant to intimidate. Each post meant to silence. Each attack meant to push a woman out of public life. We cannot allow that,” the resident coordinator said.
The UN official noted that although more Nigerian women are stepping into leadership roles, they still face unequal access to power and protection.
“More women are stepping forward. More women are competing. More women are leading. Momentum is growing—and we must protect it,” he added.
Citing data from the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey, he said that “one in five women aged 15–49 has faced physical or sexual violence.”
Fall called the numbers painful but indicative of some progress, saying “physical violence is declining. Sexual violence is declining. But as one door begins to close, another threat opens online.”
He warned that technology-facilitated violence “threatens livelihoods. It undermines confidence. It silences women in politics, in classrooms, in workplaces, and in communities.”
Fall acknowledged steps taken by the Nigerian government, including the continued implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and efforts to strengthen cybercrime laws and expand women’s political representation.
“These steps matter. They advance Goal 5. They move Nigeria closer to a future where equality is real, not rhetorical,” he said.
Still, he stressed the need for stronger action. “We need safer digital spaces. We need stronger enforcement of laws. We need investments in digital literacy for girls and boys. We need policies that protect women online as firmly as offline,” he said.
The UN official also called for technology companies to act “responsibly and transparently,” and urged communities—including families, teachers, religious leaders and journalists—to “stand as defenders of respect and dignity.”
Reflecting this year’s global theme, “UNiTE! End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” Fall said it serves as “a call to action.” According to him, online abuse “is not private. It is public. It is political. It is structural. And ending it is everyone’s responsibility.”
Fall reaffirmed the UN’s commitment: “The UN in Nigeria stands with the Government. We stand with civil society. We stand with every survivor who refuses to be silenced.”
He closed by echoing the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres: “Violence against women and girls is a violation of human rights. It is never acceptable. It is never tolerable. It is never inevitable. And it must end.”
According to the UN, nearly one in three women worldwide has faced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Digital platforms once viewed as spaces for connection and opportunity have increasingly turned into sites of abuse, including harassment, stalking, sextortion, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and coordinated online attacks.
Research shows that up to 85 per cent of women globally have experienced or witnessed some form of online violence, with those in public life—such as journalists, human rights defenders, and young female activists—most frequently targeted.
In Nigeria, the situation remains deeply concerning. Thousands of cases of gender-based violence are reported each year, while many more go unreported due to stigma, fear, and limited access to justice. The rapid growth of internet use and social media has further exposed women and girls to digital threats, intensifying offline violence and suppressing their participation in civic and public spaces.
