The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised concerns over the growing use of technology to facilitate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), warning that digital platforms are creating new avenues for abuse.
The agency called for stronger public awareness and greater collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, communities and the media to prevent technology-facilitated abuse and improve access to justice and support for survivors.
NAPTIP Calls for Action Against Digital Abuse
Head of Press and Public Relations at NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, raised the concern during a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Media Corps Workshop organised by the agency.
The workshop was supported by the European Union through the End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) Programme, implemented by International IDEA.
Adekoye said the increasing use of digital platforms to perpetrate different forms of abuse requires greater attention from stakeholders.
He stressed the need for the public to understand emerging forms of SGBV and for institutions responsible for prevention and response to strengthen their coordination.
34 States Have Domesticated VAPP Act
Adekoye also disclosed that 34 states have domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, while Kogi and Delta states are yet to do so.
He further revealed that NAPTIP has secured three life imprisonment convictions in SGBV-related cases, highlighting the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.
The development, he said, underscores the need for stronger enforcement of laws designed to protect victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Journalists Trained on Ethical SGBV Reporting
The workshop brought together journalists from the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State as part of efforts to strengthen media engagement on SGBV across the FCT, Benue, Kaduna and Oyo states.
The initiative seeks to improve the quality and coordination of media and community-based communication on SGBV.
It also promotes professional, survivor-centred, evidence-based and action-oriented reporting.
Speaking earlier, International IDEA’s Civil Society and Community Mobilization Specialist, Wynyfred Achu-Egbuson, said the Media Corps initiative was designed to equip journalists with the skills needed to report SGBV responsibly.
She said the programme would also support the implementation of laws and policies designed to protect survivors while strengthening institutional coordination and enforcement of the VAPP Act.
Media Has Critical Role in Fighting SGBV
Facilitator Toyin Adewale-Gabriel said the media has an important role to play in breaking the silence surrounding sexual violence and ensuring that the public has access to reliable information.
She cited findings indicating that 21 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence, while 58 per cent of survivors neither seek help nor report their experiences.
Gabriel urged journalists to adopt ethical and survivor-centred reporting that raises awareness, encourages survivors to seek support and contributes to positive social change.
Experts Warn Against Victim-Blaming
The workshop also examined gender roles, stereotypes, victim-blaming and the influence of media coverage on public attitudes towards SGBV.
Facilitator Tim Aniebonam urged journalists to avoid language that reinforces harmful stereotypes.
He also encouraged sustained reporting that follows SGBV cases beyond the initial incident and focuses on accountability.
Similarly, Dr. Lauratu Abdulsalam cautioned journalists about the potential impact of headlines, language, visuals and reporting angles on survivors.
She warned that insensitive coverage could deepen stigma and trauma and urged journalists, influencers and community correspondents to prioritise ethical, evidence-based reporting.
Legal Framework for Combating SGBV
On the legal framework for addressing SGBV, Armsfree Ajanaku highlighted international and regional instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Maputo Protocol and the Sustainable Development Goals.
He said the international frameworks complement Nigeria’s domestic laws and stressed that ending SGBV requires sustained commitment from government, civil society, development partners, the media and citizens.
NAPTIP Seeks Stronger Response to Technology-Facilitated Abuse
The workshop concluded with renewed emphasis on the role of journalists and other stakeholders in preventing SGBV, challenging harmful social norms and improving access to support services.
As technology continues to reshape how people communicate and interact, NAPTIP’s warning highlights the need for institutions and communities to respond to emerging forms of abuse while ensuring that survivors receive appropriate protection, support and access to justice.
