GBV: Youths trained on curbing cyber-facilitated attacks

Sustainable Gender Action Initiative (SGAI) in partnership with Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, has trained youths on checking cyber-facilitated sexual and gender based violence (CFSGBV). The training, an initiative of women radio 91.7, was held Monday in Abuja as part of activities to commemorate the 2023 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Speaking, Mufuliat […]

Sustainable Gender Action Initiative (SGAI) in partnership with Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, has trained youths on checking cyber-facilitated sexual and gender based violence (CFSGBV).

The training, an initiative of women radio 91.7, was held Monday in Abuja as part of activities to commemorate the 2023 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Speaking, Mufuliat Fijabi, Executive Director of SGAI, said the participants were selected across the country through their call for applications online.

According to her, the training was put together to educate the youths more on issues of CFSGBV.

“Before now, there have been a lot of concerns about Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) but not so much attention has been given to those acts of SGBV committed within cyberspace.

“It is important to speak about it in line with the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence which is an annual celebration from 25th of November to 10th of December,” she said.

Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, Chief Executive Officer of Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, said the aim of the training was to make the youths the vanguard and advocate against CFSGBV.

“We invited different stakeholders to this workshop because we want them to continue to be the lead organizations to ensure that the menace is well managed,” she added.

Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director-General, National Agency For The Prohibition Of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), described CFSGBV as “any act that is committed or amplified using digital tools or technologies which cause physical, sexual, psychological, social, political or economic harm to people.”

Waziri-Azi, represented by Isah Abdulkarim, Chief Intelligence Officer, NAPTIP, gave some tips on how to maintain cyber hygiene, which include “the use of complex passwords, change of passwords for one’s accounts periodically and ensure never to use same password for different accounts, keeping your system updated.

“Scrutinize emails properly before clicking to open them, use social media with caution, avoid using public WiFi networks as much as possible, keep visitors away from your main network, use corporate email account (i.e email with a .gov.ng domain) for official purpose and protect your systems with anti-virus.”

Henry Uche, Commissioner of Police and Director, National Cybercrime Centre, said the police had put in place strategies and measures to help in the fight against the menace and many arrests had been made while culprits were facing prosecution.

Yewande Gbola-Awope, Head, SGBV Response Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice, said the unit, which was created in 2021 and began its full operations in 2022, had been facilitating sub-national and national issues on access to justice for gender-based violence in the country.