16 Days of Activism Against GBV: Sokoto Govt., UNFPA move to curb digital violence
Violence
By Habibu Harisu
Sokoto, Dec. 10, 2025 (NAN) The Sokoto State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has embarked on collaborative efforts with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and other partners to tackle digital violence against women and girls.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, disclosed this during sensitisation lecture to mark the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on Wednesday in Sokoto.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GBV refers to any act of violence directed against an individual based on his or her gender.
It is a widespread menace that affects people of all ages and backgrounds, manifesting in various forms such as physical, sexual and psychological violence, including intimate partner abuse, trafficking and forced prostitution, considered as serious violation of human right.
NAN also reports that the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV is a United Nations’ international campaign that runs from Nov. 25, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, through Dec. 10, which is the International Human Rights Day.
This period highlights that violence against women is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights worldwide.
The campaign started in 1991 as a strategic effort to unite and amplify calls for the elimination of violence against women and girls and each year, the 16 Days of Activism galvanises organisations around the world and draws the attention of governments to the urgent and critical issues around GBV.
The theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism is “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.”
Alhaji, therefore, said digital violence had become a growing threat against women and girls, noting that the programme would continue to support partners working to eliminate all forms of discrimination and abuse.
He described this year’s global theme ‘Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls as “apt and timely, considering the challenges women face on digital victimisation.”
He said online abuse limits women’s participation and undermines their dignity, adding that stakeholders must work together to make digital spaces safe and empowering.
The permanent secretary reiterated the ministry’s commitment to protecting women and children against all forms of abuse.
The Amira, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hajiya Zahra ‘u Maishanu, said digital platforms had become major spaces where women and girls face cyberbullying, harassment, impersonation, stalking, image-based abuse and hate speech.
Maishanu said different forms of GBV have become global challenge and stressed the need for communities to work collectively to reduce prevalence.
Dr Bello Hassan-Almustspha, identified online resources, channels and platforms that people can use to checkmate abuse, attacks and other fraudulent activities.
Hassan-Almustspha, a Computer Engineer, urged authorities to implement cybercrime laws and empower Nigerians with relevant knowledge of cyber advantages and disadvantages.
He highlighted the effects of cyberstalking, online harassment and impersonation as leading forms of abuse and decried low reporting about the menace.
He stressed the need for more action against stigma, weak digital safety skills, legal gaps and inadequate institutional response that were part of the major obstacles to addressing digital violence.
NAN reports that different speakers took turns to express the dangers of digital violence and called for policy reforms, improved digital literacy, mandatory online safety education in schools and accountability for digital platforms. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu