07/12/2025
UNITE TO END DIGITAL VIOLENCE AGAINST ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS YOYICOD’S COMMITMENT
My name is Ibrahim Sunusi, Executive Director of Yobe Youth Initiative and Community Development (YOYICOD).
As we mark the 2025 global theme “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” I want to speak from a place of experience from the work we do in communities, in schools, and online.
Today, digital spaces have become a second home for many of us. Our mothers, sisters, and daughters go online to learn, communicate, run small businesses, or even seek support. But the same space that should be empowering often becomes a place of fear, harassment, and abuse for women and girls.
🔎 Digital Violence Is Real And It Happens Here in Nigeria
We have seen cases of:
•Cyber-stalking and digital harassment, especially targeting young women
•Online blackmail and “sextortion” where private photos are used to intimidate or extort victims
•Fake accounts impersonating women to destroy their reputation
•Hate speech and degrading comments on social media
•Screenshots and private chats leaked to shame women
•Romance and financial scams directed at vulnerable girls online
Many of these incidents are happening quietly in our own communities. Victims suffer in silence because of shame, stigma, or fear of being blamed.
🟣 YOYICOD’s Work: Digital Literacy as a Shield
At YOYICOD, we strongly believe that digital literacy is one of the strongest defenses women and girls can have. An informed girl is harder to deceive, harder to manipulate, and more confident to speak up.
Through our digital programs, we:
•Train young people on safe internet practices
•Build awareness on cyberbullying and online harassment
•Teach girls how to protect their accounts and digital identity
•Host community sessions on ethical online behaviour and respect
•Partner with stakeholders to strengthen community awareness on online safety and gender rights
Digital literacy is not just computer skills it is protection, empowerment, and survival in today’s world.
✊ Our Commitment as YOYICOD
As an organization rooted in community development, youth empowerment, and peacebuilding, we are committed to:
•Continuing our digital-safety awareness campaigns
•Engaging men and boys to understand their role in creating safe online spaces
•Supporting survivors who face online abuse
•Strengthening school-based digital-literacy outreach.
Working with partners to ensure women and girls are not left behind in the digital age
We want a Yobe State and a Nigeria where women and girls can go online without fear, without shame, and without threats.
🔔 A Message to the Community
Digital violence does not happen “somewhere far.” It is happening around us in WhatsApp groups, pages, TikTok comments, private messages, and anonymous accounts.
Every one of us has a role to play:
•Reject abusive posts.
•Speak up when you see harassment.
•Support victims.
Promote responsible online behaviour.
Teach young boys respect.
When we protect women and girls online, we protect our entire community.
💜 Final Word
Let us unite, families, youths, leaders, and institutions, to make the digital space a safe space.
As YOYICOD, our message is clear:
Digital rights are human rights.
Online safety is community safety.
Women and girls deserve dignity, both online and offline.
