By Salami Abdulrahaman |
Legal practitioners, judicial officers, cybersecurity experts, and gender rights advocates have called for stronger legal enforcement, enhanced digital privacy protections, and greater institutional collaboration to combat the rising incidence of digital violence against women in the legal profession.
The call was made at a one-day seminar themed, “Digital Violence and Privacy: Legal Remedies for Cyberbullying, Image-Based Abuse, and Online Harassment Targeting Women in Law,” held on Monday at the Bukhari Bello Auditorium of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Abuja.
Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, OFR, the Director of the Legal Services and Enforcement Department, Rabi A. Anwar, described digital violence as an emerging human rights challenge that requires urgent and coordinated action from government institutions, legal practitioners, and other stakeholders.
She observed that while digital technology has expanded opportunities for communication, advocacy, and access to information, it has also exposed women to cyberbullying, cyberstalking, image-based abuse, doxxing, and other forms of online harassment that threaten their privacy, dignity, safety, and professional reputation.
Anwar stressed the need for stronger implementation of existing legal frameworks, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to ensure effective remedies for victims and accountability for perpetrators.
She also called for improved reporting mechanisms, enhanced protection for survivors, and stronger collaboration among legal practitioners, law enforcement agencies, and human rights institutions to effectively tackle technology-facilitated violence.
In her opening address, delivered on behalf of the Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF), Huwaila Muhammed Ibrahim, Anayisi Agnes Fache Omuya, Esq., underscored the urgent need for increased awareness and stronger institutional responses to digital violence targeting women in the legal profession.
She noted that cyberbullying, online harassment, image-based abuse, and other forms of technology-enabled attacks have become significant threats affecting women lawyers and other female professionals. She urged members of the legal community to champion digital safety, defend privacy rights, and support initiatives aimed at creating safer online spaces for women.
The seminar featured expert presentations on legal remedies for cyberbullying, preservation of digital evidence, data privacy protection, responsible use of social media, and practical strategies for preventing and responding to online harassment.
Participants advocated continuous capacity-building for legal professionals, increased public awareness of digital rights, improved access to justice for victims, and stronger partnerships among government agencies, civil society organisations, technology companies, and the legal profession.
The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to strengthen legal and institutional responses to digital violence, safeguard the privacy and dignity of women in law, and promote a safer, more inclusive digital environment anchored on human rights principles.
