The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, widely known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), has announced the launched of its 2025 “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign for this year on ending digital violence against women and girls.
PWAN, a women-led non-governmental organisation, has long been at the forefront of strengthening democratic values, improving security governance, and promoting citizen participation across Nigeria and the West African region.
In a statement issued by the organisation’s Communications Officer, Ogechukwu Holly Mohanye, the group emphasized that, the 2025 campaign will advance its mandate to protect vulnerable populations and champion gender equality in both physical and digital spaces.
According to the statement, this year’s activism with the theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” reflecting the urgent need to address the rising threats women and girls face across online platforms.
It says digital spaces is essential for learning, communication, and economic participation have now become increasingly unsafe for women and girls who experience online harassment, cyberbullying, sextortion, stalking, identity theft, blackmail, misinformation, and deepfake exploitation.
“The 2025 campaign seeks to bridge this gap through sustained public awareness, community education, and strengthened accountability systems”
“Running from November 25 to December 10, the global campaign begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and concludes on Human Rights Day, providing a strategic period for heightened advocacy and public engagement”
The statement points that, throughout the 16 days, PWAN will intensify prevention messages while driving national dialogue around the dangers and long-term implications of digital gender-based violence for individuals, communities, and the nation.
It reveals that, the organisation has outlined a series of national and state-level activities, including a digital countdown, educational content carousels, animated explainers, and interactive online sessions designed to strengthen digital safety skills.
The initiatives according to the statement will also highlight key legal protections available to citizens, such as the Cybercrime Act and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, ensuring that more Nigerians understand how the law addresses online abuse.
PWAN’s offices across Abuja, Borno, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, and Kebbi States will host community-based engagements, beginning with leadership and community training for traditional leaders, religious leaders, women-led groups, and other community structures.
The campaign will further feature a national webinar on digital education for girls, creating a platform for experts, advocates, and young people to deepen conversations surrounding responsible digital behavior and online protection.
In addition, the organisation will conduct school sensitisation programs aimed at equipping students with practical digital safety knowledge and strategies for identifying and reporting online threats.
PWAN will also partner with traditional media, including radio stations and newspapers across several states, to raise public awareness on human rights, online security, and community responses to digital violence, while sustaining daily advocacy across its social media platforms.
PWAN reiterated that its long-standing mission—to promote justice, strengthen citizen participation, and improve security governance across Nigeria and West Africa—remains central to its advocacy for a society free from all forms of violence.
REL/AMINU DALHATU
