Every year, from the 25th of November to the 10th of December, the world marks 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. It is a global movement that brings governments, civil society organisations, activists, communities, and individuals together to demand an end to all forms of violence against women and girls. For more than many decades, this campaign has drawn attention to the inequalities, harmful norms, and systemic failures that continue to fuel gender-based violence in homes, communities, workplaces, and public spaces.
In 2025, the global theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”, draws urgent attention to a fast-growing form of abuse that affects millions of women and girls across the world, including here in Nigeria. As digital spaces become central to communication, work, learning, relationships, and activism, they have also become new environments where harassment, exploitation, and violence occur. This year’s theme challenges all of us to recognise digital violence as real violence, with real consequences for the safety, dignity, health, and rights of women and girls.
Digital violence includes cyberstalking, online harassment, threats, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, impersonation, hate speech, doxxing, and other forms of technology-facilitated abuse. Many women and girls face these violations every day on social media platforms, messaging apps, online forums, and even in professional digital spaces. Despite the harm it causes, digital violence is often overlooked, normalised, or dismissed. Survivors may struggle to report online abuse, receive little support, and often face victim-blaming or shame. This silence and lack of accountability make online spaces increasingly unsafe for women and girls.
In Nigeria, the impact is especially concerning. As internet access continues to grow and more young people rely on digital tools for education, employment, and expression, the risks of online harassment and exploitation are rising. Women activists, journalists, content creators, students, and even school-age girls regularly face targeted online abuse simply for expressing their opinions or existing in digital spaces. Digital violence does not end online. It affects mental health, limits participation, reinforces gender inequality, and can escalate into physical threats or offline harm. This makes it a serious human rights issue that cannot be ignored.
The 2025 theme calls on governments, civil society, tech companies, communities, and individuals to take coordinated action. It encourages stronger regulations to protect users from online abuse, improved reporting mechanisms, community education, and survivor-centred support systems. It also demands greater accountability from digital platforms to ensure that online spaces are safe, inclusive, and respectful. Importantly, the theme highlights the need for digital literacy and awareness, especially for women and girls who may be more vulnerable to online threats due to limited access to safety information and protective tools.
For ActionAid Nigeria, this year’s campaign reinforces our commitment to building safe communities, promoting gender justice, and amplifying the voices of women and girls. As an organisation working to end poverty and injustice, we recognise that digital safety is now part of the broader struggle for rights, equality, and freedom from violence. We see the growing trend of technology-facilitated gender-based violence in communities, schools, online learning spaces, workplaces, and social movements. We also understand that many survivors need safe avenues to report violations, seek support, and access justice.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, ActionAid Nigeria will continue to raise awareness on the different forms of digital violence and its impact on women and girls. We will work closely with communities, young people, women’s rights organisations, journalists, and partners to promote safe online practices and challenge harmful norms. We will also advocate for stronger policies and digital rights protections, while engaging men and boys as allies in preventing violence both online and offline. In addition, we remain committed to providing spaces for survivors to speak out and access support without fear, shame, or judgement.
The fight against gender-based violence can no longer focus only on physical or visible forms of abuse. As the world becomes more digital, so does the violence. Ending digital violence requires collective action, awareness, education, accountability, and a commitment to building online spaces where women and girls can participate freely and safely. The 16 Days of Activism is a powerful opportunity to remind everyone that both online and offline, women and girls deserve to live without fear.
As we observe the 2025 16 Days of Activism, ActionAid Nigeria calls on individuals, communities, institutions, and government actors to unite and take action. By working together, we can challenge harmful behaviours, support survivors, strengthen protections, and create a society where the rights and dignity of every woman and girl are upheld. The digital world holds immense potential for learning, empowerment, and connection. It must never be a place of violence.
