By Gabriel Ameh, The Sight News
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) Women Commission FCT has officially launched its 2025 edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, with a strong call for national unity to end the rapidly growing menace of digital violence against women and girls.
The event, themed “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” convened advocates, labour leaders, policymakers, civil society groups, and digital rights experts.
Delivering the welcome address, the Chairperson of the TUC Women Commission FCT, Comrade Sandra Ogbonna, described the moment as both “an honour and a solemn responsibility.”
She noted that while digital transformation has unlocked opportunities worldwide, it has also exposed countless Nigerian women, especially young girls to unprecedented levels of online abuse, harassment, stalking, cyberbullying, and non-consensual image sharing.
Citing alarming indicators from recent studies, she disclosed that over 60% of Nigerian women have faced some form of online violence, adding that the psychological impact often includes anxiety, isolation, and withdrawal from digital spaces. “These are not just numbers. They are our daughters, sisters, and friends. Each story echoes the same heart-wrenching refrain: we must do better,” she emphasized.
Comrade Ogbonna urged strengthened collaboration between tech companies, lawmakers, regulators, and law enforcement to ensure perpetrators are held accountable. She stressed the need for digital literacy, public awareness, and community engagement to help women thrive confidently online.
“Imagine a society where our daughters can explore their aspirations without fear. This vision is attainable, but it requires unwavering commitment,” she added.
The FCT State Council Chairperson, Comrade Amaoge Chukwudi, in her opening remarks, applauded the Women Commission for championing a timely national conversation. She highlighted the urgency of protecting women in an increasingly interconnected world and reaffirmed the commitment of the TUC FCT to advancing policies that defend the rights and dignity of women both online and offline.
The keynote address delivered by the National Chairperson of the TUC Women Commission, Comrade Esther Asabe Amodu, expanded the conversation to national significance. She described digital violence as “the new front line of gender inequality” and stressed the responsibility of institutions to create safe digital ecosystems. She called for stronger national frameworks, improved reporting structures, and inclusive technological reforms that consider the unique challenges women face.
On her part, Comrade Amaoge Chukwudi, FCT State Council Chairperson said that as they join the global community in marking the 16 Days of Activism, they should remind themselves that the safety and dignity of women in the digital age is not optional, it is essential.
“Digital platforms have opened new doors for expression, innovation, and opportunity. Yet they have also been weaponised against women and girls, exposing them to harmful attacks that silence, intimidate, and sometimes traumatize them.
“Today’s theme is a powerful reminder that the fight against gender-based violence must extend beyond physical spaces into the digital world.
“I applaud the TUC Women Commission FCT for taking a bold step in bringing this conversation to the forefront. As a council, we remain committed to policies that protect workers, safeguard women’s rights, and ensure that no digital platform becomes a place of fear or exclusion.
“Together with our partners, advocates, and community members, we will continue to champion interventions that empower women, strengthen digital protection systems, and ensure that every voice online or offline is respected”, she said.
Delivering her keynote address, Comrade Esther Asabe Amodu, National Chairperson stated that “today marks a defining moment in our collective journey to ensure that every Nigerian woman and girl can participate safely, confidently, and fully in the digital age. As technology evolves, so do the risks that disproportionately affect women.
“Digital violence including harassment, threats, stalking, image abuse, hate speech, and misinformation has become the new battleground for gender inequality. It is a form of violence that leaves no physical scars but inflicts deep emotional, mental, and social wounds.
“We cannot continue to allow digital spaces to become hostile environments that silence women’s voices. As a nation and as institutions, we have a responsibility to protect the dignity of every woman. This requires stronger policies, improved reporting systems, and stricter punishments for online abusers. It requires our lawmakers, tech companies, labour unions, and civil society to build a framework where digital safety is recognized as a fundamental right.
“More importantly, we must empower women and girls with digital literacy knowledge that gives them resilience, confidence, and the ability to navigate online platforms safely. A digitally empowered woman is not only safer; she is also positioned to lead, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to national development”, she said.
Furthermore, she noted that “As we embark on these 16 days of activism, I call on all stakeholders to unite, collaborate, and commit to sustained action. Let us build a Nigeria where digital spaces uplift rather than destroy, where women thrive rather than shrink, and where every girl’s dream is protected, not attacked. Together, we can end digital violence and ensure a future where respect, safety, and equality are the foundation of our digital interactions”.
Goodwill messages came from labour leaders, women rights groups, and partner organisations dedicated to advancing women’s empowerment.
A panel discussion moderated by Chioma, featuring digital rights experts, union leaders, and gender advocates, dissected the realities faced by women and girls online and proposed actionable strategies for prevention, intervention, and justice.
The event concluded with a collective pledge: to protect digital spaces, empower women’s voices, and work together to end digital violence across Nigeria.
