Inclusive Futures Initiative (IFI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has said digital technology can enhance the monitoring of human rights violations, strengthen the enforcement of existing laws and connect victims with legal assistance.
This was contained in a report titled “Mapping the Women and Children’s Rights Ecosystem in Nigeria,” presented by IFI’s Executive Director, Lucy Okonkwo, during the unveiling of the organisation’s knowledge products on Friday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an ecosystem intelligence map, developed with support from Luminate Group, was among the knowledge products unveiled at the event.
The products provide evidence-based insights to guide targeted interventions addressing challenges affecting women and children.
Okonkwo said civic technology, data-driven advocacy and community engagement could help bridge existing gaps in protecting women and children from abuse and exploitation.
She identified child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), child labour, gender-based violence and digital exploitation as major challenges affecting women and children in Nigeria.
According to her, despite the existence of several laws and active civil society organisations, inconsistencies in the legal framework and gaps in implementation continue to undermine efforts to protect their rights.
She identified the Child’s Rights Act, 2003, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, as key legislation designed to protect vulnerable groups.
However, she noted that differences in the application of laws across states, alongside socio-cultural practices, continued to pose challenges to effective enforcement.
Okonkwo disclosed that an estimated 20 million women and girls in Nigeria had undergone FGM, while 24.6 million children aged between five and 17 were engaged in child labour.
She further stated that, according to the report, an estimated 24 million girls and women had been married before the age of 18.
The IFI executive director also highlighted digital exploitation and image-based sexual abuse as emerging threats to women and children. She explained that advances in artificial intelligence and its integration into social media had created additional vulnerabilities for these groups.
To address these challenges, Okonkwo recommended an integrated data system connecting the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), sexual assault referral centres, state ministries and civil society organisations.
She said the proposed system, with appropriate privacy safeguards, would support the monitoring of rights violations, identify areas with high incidences of abuse and guide the allocation of resources.
She also advocated the development of mobile and web-based platforms to enable parents to identify rights violations, report cases, access legal assistance and document incidents of abuse.
Additionally, Okonkwo called for community-based data collection involving health workers, teachers and local leaders, supported by secure digital applications to improve information gathering and strengthen advocacy efforts.
Speaking at the event, IFI Board Member Adenike Aloba said the knowledge products were designed to make the connections among issues, policies, investments, stakeholders and interventions more visible.
She explained that the initiative aimed to provide stakeholders with evidence to support informed decision-making and identify opportunities for collective action.
“We want to provide a stronger evidence base for asking better questions, making better decisions, and finding opportunities to act together,” Aloba said.
Meanwhile, Melanie Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Luminate Group, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to collaborating with groups addressing digital rights violations across different regions.
She said supporting IFI presented an opportunity to help shape a digital future that reflected the needs, hopes and aspirations of the communities served by the organisations.
In her keynote address, Luminate Regional Director Toyin Akinniyi called for stronger institutions, adequate funding and coordinated interventions to ensure that laws and policies translated into meaningful protection for women and children.
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