The Edo State Government has read the riot act to perpetrators of digital violence against women and girls in the state, threatening that it would not hesitate to institute legal actions against the perpetrators.
DAILY POST reports that the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Eugenia Abdallah disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference in Benin City, as part of activities to mark this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Abdallah assured that the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government is committed to the safety of all women and girls, both offline and online.
While noting that in today’s digital world, technology offers unprecedented opportunities, she added that it has also opened new spaces for violence.
She listed the various violence against women and girls to include cyber-bullying, online harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyber-stalking, identity theft, trafficking recruitment through social media, hate speech and targeted attacks, online radicalization and manipulation.
She, however, charged technology and telecom companies to strengthen reporting systems, and to include protective measures on their platforms, just as she also called on the youths to use their online influence to promote respect, and reject harmful behaviours.
The commissioner also called on citizens of the state to join the movement to build safer digital and physical spaces.
She further, urged parents and guardians to monitor and guide their children’s online interactions, while teachers and schools should integrate digital safety education into daily learning.
“This year’s global theme: “Unite to Prevent Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”, draws attention to the rapidly growing, but often overlooked dimension of gender-based violence, namely, online abuse and harm perpetrated through digital platforms.
“Digital violence is real, its psychological, emotional, social, and sometimes physical impacts just as devastating,as offline violence and because it can follow victims anywhere, anytime, its reach is limitless.
“As a government, we cannot allow the digital world, where our children specifically, our daughters learn, socialize, and build their futures, to become a space of fear, intimidation and harm,” she said.
Abdallah said the State Government has taken significant steps to strengthen the protection of women and girls, including the establishment and the expansion of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in Benin City, and Uromi.
She also listed other steps to include strengthening enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law and provisions, training of social workers, counsellors, security agencies officers, and health personnel on providing safety, survivor care and psychosocial support.
Other steps are enhancing collaboration with the Nigeria Police, Civil Defense, NAPTIP, the Ministry of Justice, civil society, and technology partners to address all forms of GBV, promoting digital literacy and safety campaigns in schools, communities, and youth spaces.
She noted that the efforts reflected the state government’s unyielding dedication to safeguarding every woman and girl across in the State.
Abdallah opined that ending digital violence requires collective collaboration of all citizens, stating that, “when we unite, we create online and offline environments, where women and girls can thrive without fear.