NGO seeks awareness for technology-facilitated sexual, gender-based violence

A non-governmental organization, Sustainable Gender Action Initiative (SGAI), has called for increased awareness on technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence (TFDSGBV).

The Chairperson of SGAI, Mrs Mufuliat Fijabi, made the call over the weekend at a capacity building for youths on technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence.

She noted that sexual and gender-based violence is no longer only in the physical space, but in the technology space, where some of the devices used to achieve other real time and real live needs have also been deployed to facilitate sexual and gender-based violence.

According to her, “Technology-facilitated genderbased violence (TFGBV) is a form of violence that uses technology to harm or control an individual based on their gender.

“A lot has happened in the advocacy on sexual and gender-based violence, but more needs to be achieved in terms of creating awareness and also having more technology-targeted laws that will protect users of technology from this kind of violence.

“The need to have a more sufficient legal framework in place to also target Technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence is important and urgent, because, everyday, there is an sexual violence is perpetrated through technological means and there is need to pay attention to it.

“We need to continue to study the gender dimensions and how it’s beginning to exclude young persons, especially young women from the technological space because it reduces their self-esteem, it leads to them isolating themselves. It’s a joint effort.”

Fijabi harped on the need to create awareness on the need for both men and women, boys and girls to pay attention to the increased occurrence of sexual and gender-based violence online.

“We want young people, especially those below the age of 35 to have increased awareness and be able to serve as vanguards to talk to their youth age groups around the dangers of experiencing or initiating this kind of violence.

“The workshop has been targeted to contribute to adding value to the need to focus on technology and how it impacts on the lives of women and men, especially young persons,” she added.

Speaking further on the various forms of TFDSGBV and their impacts, the SGAI Chairperson noted that the impacts of technology-facilitated SGBV are far reaching and can have significant consequences on individuals’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

“Victims may experience fear, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-harm, or even contemplate suicide. The abuse can affect their personal relationships, educational or professional opportunities, and overall quality of life,” she said.

Fijabi therefore emphasized that it is crucial to address these issues through awareness campaigns, legal measures, and support services to mitigate the impact and protect the rights and safety of victims.

Speaking earlier on the subject, Introduction to Key Concepts on SGBV, the Director of Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI), Ms Ngozi Nwosu Juba, defined GBV as an umbrella term for any harmful act that is committed against a person’s will.

Juba who was represented by Programme Officer (Policy and Advocacy) of VSI, Mary Udoh, noted that gender-based violence is rooted in power inequalities, the unequal power relationship between genders.

“Cultural and religious factors, harmful gender norms and stereotypes, legal factors, and economic factors also fuel gender-based violence,” she added.