The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has concluded 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, calling for coordinated prevention frameworks to tackle the menace.
The Director of Protection, Gender and Inclusion, NRCS, Fatima Nasir, stated this during a community sensitisation road-walk organised by the Society, highlighting its strategic commitment to building safer digital ecosystems.
She emphasised that survivor-centred reporting mechanisms and stronger public awareness are key to combating the rising tide of tech-enabled abuse.
“We feel that the Nigerian Red Cross needs to create more awareness so that people understand that abuse is not just physical but can also take place in cyberspace. Online abuse is using the digital space to bully people. Sending them unwanted and inappropriate messages,” she said.
According to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), digital threats are accelerating at a pace communities can barely keep up with, with far too many incidents going unreported.
Operations Coordinator, IFRC, Gloria Kunyenga, reinforced the need for cross-sector collaboration, noting that online sexual violence is not just a digital challenge but a full-spectrum protection issue requiring policy alignment, behavioural change, and sustained community education.
“The IFRC is committed to supporting the Nigerian Red Cross Society to end all forms of cyberbullying.
“Luckily this year, the theme of the 16 days of activism has to do with including women, girls and young children in a digital world. You must understand that these people can be abused and this year we want to create awareness so that these categories of people may be protected when they use the internet. We also want women and girls to know their rights because many do not even know that online abuse exists,” Kunyenga explained.
She highlighted that from coordinated online harassment and persistent tracking to the misuse of personal information, manipulated imagery, and targeted misinformation, these violations undermine confidence, erode dignity, and push women out of digital spaces.
“In their most extreme form, online attacks spill over into physical harm—with consequences that can be fatal,” she warned.
The 16 Days of Activism is an annual campaign aimed at creating awareness around sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly among women and young girls.
This year’s theme is ‘No excuse for online abuse,’ focusing on protecting vulnerable groups in digital spaces.
PIAK