The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has raised concerns over the increasing prevalence of Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls (TFVAW/G) across Africa. In a new report unveiled in Abuja, the organization highlights widespread online harassment, cyberstalking, image-based abuse, and exploitation affecting women and girls in Nigeria and Kenya.
Titled “The Digital Harm Effect: Confronting Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria and Kenya,” the report was launched in collaboration with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya. Supported by the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, the study is based on evidence from 515 women in both countries and documents the growing use of digital platforms to perpetrate abuse.
Key Findings and Impact
Presenting the findings, Research Lead and Editor of the report, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, noted that the study uncovered widespread stigma, underreporting, and severe psychological trauma among survivors. She revealed that some victims of online abuse had contemplated suicide due to the intensity of the harassment. “Many young women face severe online threats, with some even contemplating suicide as a result of the abuse they experience,” she said.
Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi also highlighted cases of digital exploitation involving online financial support platforms targeting vulnerable women. The broader project has reached over 2,000 beneficiaries across Nigeria and Kenya, with ongoing advocacy for stronger laws and policy reforms.
Calls for Action
Acting Executive Director of WARDC, Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode, called for urgent digital literacy interventions and legal reforms to address emerging threats linked to technological advancement and artificial intelligence. She emphasized the need for comprehensive measures to protect women and girls in digital spaces.
Executive Director of the Centre for Redefining Alternative Civic Engagement for Africa (RACE), Evelyn Ugbe, warned that AI-manipulated images and videos are compounding the psychological trauma suffered by survivors. Her organization is establishing digital safety clubs in schools and expanding access to support services through its Feminist Digital Watch initiative.
Platforms and Challenges
The report identified platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X as major sites of harassment. Weak law enforcement capacity and poor digital forensic infrastructure continue to hinder justice for survivors. WARDC called for coordinated action by governments, schools, justice institutions, technology companies, and civil society groups to curb online violence and make digital spaces safer for women and girls.
