The UN Women has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening policy frameworks, enhancing digital safety, and promoting accountability for online harms in Nigeria.
Ms Nyara Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support at UN Women, stated this on Saturday in Abuja during a press conference marking her high-level mission to Nigeria and the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Gumbonzvanda said the visit aimed to deepen partnerships, reinforce national leadership, and accelerate collective action to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
“A critical area of concern remains technology-facilitated GBV, which is rising globally and nationally,” she said. “Between 16 per cent and 58 per cent of women worldwide experience some form of online or technology-facilitated GBV, depending on the region.”
She noted that UN Women is supporting the government and stakeholders in strengthening policy frameworks, improving digital safety, and promoting accountability for online harms.
Gumbonzvanda commended the National Assembly for its commitment to strengthening legislation that protects women and girls and advances women’s participation in governance. She, however, decried the low representation of women in the legislature, which currently stands at 3.8 per cent—far below the global average of 27.2 per cent.
She emphasized the need for legislative reforms, including affirmative action, quotas, and the proposed special seats bill, describing them as globally recognized tools for accelerating women’s political participation.
“This is critical because, globally, nearly one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Effective legal frameworks and inclusive governance are essential to reversing this trend,” she said.
On insecurity in Nigeria, Gumbonzvanda called for the release of abducted girls and stressed the importance of ensuring every girl’s right to security and education.
She highlighted the impact of UN Women’s work in communities, including the commissioning of new WASH facilities and the rehabilitation of an agro-processing centre in Kwali to improve women’s safety, reduce labor burdens, and expand income-generating opportunities.
“UN Women will continue to mobilize partnerships across government, development partners, and the private sector to ensure that frontline organizations and national institutions have the resources required to deliver lasting change,” she added.
Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, commended the media for amplifying issues affecting women and girls nationwide.
