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COVID-19: Forum wants cyber protection for women

The Federal Government and other stakeholders have been urged to act proactively to protect women from online crimes. They made the call on Friday in…

The Federal Government and other stakeholders have been urged to act proactively to protect women from online crimes.

They made the call on Friday in Abuja at the second phase of the stakeholder engagement workshop to advance women rights online in Nigeria.

The event organised by TechHer Ng and Paradigm Initiative, was to enhance the rights and digital equality of women online for meaningful and affordable access through research, awareness and media campaigns.

Speaking at the event, the Programme Officer Anglophone West Africa, Paradigm Initiative,

Khadijah el-Usman, expressed concerned on the effects of online on women and the need to ensure that women are protected while using the internet.

“We found out that during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown lots of people moved online. Lots of businesses moved online and this also means that many would be exposed to lots of vices online. We had 149 percent increase in sexual and gender-based violence which also applied online.

“There were lots of stalking, cyberbullying, we had lots of lewd photos online. As people wanted to maximise the benefits of online, the vices make if uncomfortable for women to access online, then they may not have access to these opportunities. This is why we want experts and stakeholders to ensure that women are protected while online,” el-Usman said.

When asked on the evaluation of the safety measures for women online, she said that there were effective and immediate actions against offenders.

According to her, with the involvement of service providers and internet intermediaries are involved, the social media companies can moderate their contents.

She said, “They can block offenders and also block offensive messages. There is also the law enforcement side to ensure that even when this people were blocked online, it can move to offline too.”

On her part, the Programme Officer, TechHer Ng, Tope Salami, said that to ensure that the rights of women online are protected, they had the policy brief on online violence against women during COVID-19 and other presentations.

“Bearing in mind that technology is very important for democracy and knowing that women constitute the most disenfranchise when it comes to politics, leadership and governance.

Thus, online is a very crucial tool for women to be able to advance their rights.

To ensure that the online is safe for them and that whatever they do online is safe for them and they were protected from cyber bullying and other harmful behaviours,” Salami said.

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