UN Flags Surge in Online Abuse Targeting Women and Girls

The United Nations warned that technology-driven attacks now rank as one of the fastest-growing threats to women and girls worldwide. Mohamed Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, issued the alert during an event at UN House in Abuja on Tuesday. The gathering marked the start of the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, under the theme “UNiTE! End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.”

Fall addressed officials, diplomats, activists, youth leaders, and tech experts. He described digital harm as a new battleground where abuse invades daily life through screens and apps. Cyberstalking, sextortion, fake profiles, and unwanted image sharing now hound women relentlessly.

Nearly one in three women globally has endured physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Up to 85 per cent have faced or seen online attacks, hitting hardest those in public roles like journalists and activists. In Nigeria, one in five women aged 15 to 49 has suffered such harm, per the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey.

Thousands of gender-based violence cases surface yearly in Nigeria, yet stigma and fear bury many more. Physical assaults drop, but online perils rise, choking women’s voices in politics, work, and communities. Fall praised government moves like enforcing the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and boosting cyber laws.

He demanded urgent steps to shield women.

– Build safer online platforms
– Enforce rules with real teeth
– Fund digital skills training for all youth
– Craft policies that guard women as fiercely online as off

Fall called on tech firms to step up with clear accountability. He urged families, teachers, faith leaders, and reporters to champion dignity and respect. “We stand together this evening in solidarity, hope, and in one clear voice for women, for girls, and for justice,” he said.

The UN recommits to backing Nigeria’s government and survivors who speak out. Echoing Secretary-General António Guterres, Fall declared: “Violence against women and girls is a violation of human rights. It is never acceptable. It is never tolerable. It is never inevitable. And it must end.”

These shadows in the digital glow steal confidence and futures from brave souls daring to lead. Women and girls deserve spaces to thrive, not cower—free from the cruel echo of unseen tormentors.