Online Gender-Based Violence: Who Is Protecting Nigerian Women?

By Augusta Yaakugh Esq. and Sharimam Kwewum Esq.

Introduction

Technology has given people the power to share their voices, connect with others, and access new opportunities. However, for many Nigerian women, the internet has also become a place of fear and danger. Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV)—also called Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)—is now a serious issue affecting women’s safety, mental health, and freedom.

Women in Nigeria face cyberstalking, online harassment, non-consensual image sharing, trolling, doxxing, and threats. Many are forced to leave online spaces or stop speaking out because of abuse. Despite this, Nigeria’s laws do not fully protect women from online violence, and social media companies do not do enough to stop it.

A 2020 global survey by The Economist Intelligence Unit found that 85% of women worldwide have experienced online violence, and 62% of Nigerians know someone who has been affected. This is not just an internet problem—it is a serious human rights issue that requires urgent action from the government, tech companies, and society.

What Is Online Gender-Based Violence?

According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, OGBV is:

“Any act of gender-based violence that is committed, assisted or made worse by the use of technology, such as mobile phones, the internet, social media, or email, against a woman because she is a woman, or that affects women more than men.”

OGBV is not random. It is an extension of offline violence, and it mostly affects women in leadership, journalism, activism, politics, and business. Many victims are targeted because they are speaking out, challenging norms, or simply existing online as women.

Perpetrators of OGBV are often intimate partners, ex-partners, colleagues, or even anonymous strangers. The Economist Intelligence Unit found that 54% of women who experienced online violence knew their abuser personally.

Women in marginalised groups—such as LGBTQI women and women with disabilities—are even more likely to experience hate speech, discrimination, and online attacks.

Forms of Online Gender-Based Violence

OGBV can take many forms, including:

🔹 Sexual Harassment Online – Sending unwanted sexual messages, threats, or explicit images to women.
🔹 Cyberbullying – Using social media, emails, or gaming platforms to shame, intimidate, or harass women.
🔹 Cyberstalking – Repeatedly monitoring, threatening, or tracking a woman’s online activities.
🔹 Cyberflashing – Sending unsolicited sexually explicit pictures to women on social media or messaging apps.
🔹 Trolling – Spreading false, exaggerated, or defamatory content about women to discredit them.
🔹 Doxxing – Publishing a woman’s personal details (home address, phone number, workplace, family information) online without consent.
🔹 Identity Theft & Impersonation – Using a woman’s image or personal details to deceive others or damage her reputation.
🔹 Targeted Hate Speech – Posting misogynistic content that encourages violence or discrimination against women.

Many of these acts lead to real-life harm, affecting women’s safety, mental health, and ability to participate in society.

The Impact of Online Gender-Based Violence

OGBV causes serious harm beyond the internet. Women who experience online violence often face:

🔹 Psychological & Mental Health Issues – Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and PTSD.
🔹 Self-Censorship & Fear – Many women stop using the internet, speaking out, or engaging in activism or business because of threats.
🔹 Financial Harm – Some women lose job opportunities, clients, or income due to online abuse. Others are forced to pay for legal or cybersecurity support.
🔹 Physical Threats & Real-Life Violence – Many women who are harassed online later face stalking or attacks in real life.

Women should not have to choose between their safety and their right to be online.

Are Nigerian Laws Protecting Women?

Currently, Nigeria’s laws are failing to protect women from OGBV. While there are laws on cybercrime and violence, they do not fully cover digital abuse against women.

🔹 1999 Constitution of Nigeria – Protects against discrimination but does not include digital rights or online violence protections.
🔹 Cybercrimes Act (2015) – Criminalises cyberstalking, identity theft, and online harassment, but does not specifically recognise OGBV as a crime against women.
🔹 Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) – Protects people from emotional and psychological abuse, but does not clearly address online violence like doxxing or deepfake abuse.
🔹 Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023) – Focuses on data privacy, but does not protect women from online exploitation of their personal information.
🔹 Criminal & Penal Codes – Criminalise false news and defamation, but are not designed for digital abuse cases.

🚨 The problem: These laws are outdated and poorly enforced. Many women do not report OGBV because they know the police will not take it seriously. This must change.

What Needs to Change?

1️⃣ Strengthen & Enforce Digital Safety Laws

Amend the Cybercrimes Act (2015) to:

  • Criminalise non-consensual image sharing (NCII), deepfake abuse, doxxing, and cyberstalking.
  • Ensure harsher penalties for online harassment and gender-based digital crimes.

Expand the VAPP Act (2015) to:

  • Recognise OGBV as a form of gender-based violence and provide clear legal remedies for victims.
  • Train police officers and judges to handle OGBV cases properly.

2️⃣ Hold Social Media Platforms Accountable

Demand that tech companies:

  • Remove abusive content quickly and improve reporting systems.
  • Ban repeat offenders and increase platform safety features.
  • Be transparent about how they handle online harassment cases.

3️⃣ Educate Women on Digital Safety & Protection

Launch digital safety campaigns to help women:

  • Report cyberstalking and online threats effectively.
  • Protect their personal information online.
  • Understand their rights and available legal options.

Provide free legal support and online safety training for women at risk.

4️⃣ Address Harmful Online Narratives

✅ Challenge misogynistic content from bloggers, skit makers, and influencers.
✅ Promote positive counter-narratives that support women’s safety and digital rights.
✅ Engage religious and community leaders to speak out against online violence.

Conclusion: Time for Action, Not Silence

Online Gender-Based Violence is a human rights crisis. Women should not have to fear for their safety simply for being online.

🔹 Policymakers must reform Nigeria’s laws to protect women from digital abuse.
🔹 Tech companies must act responsibly to stop online harassment.
🔹 Law enforcement must treat OGBV as a serious crime.
🔹 Civil society must continue pushing for change through awareness and advocacy.

📢 Enough is enough. It is time to demand #DigitalJusticeForWomen.

🚀 Join the movement. Advocate for legal reform. Protect Nigerian women online.

#StopOnlineGBV #NigeriaCyberSafety #GenderJustice #TechForGood