By our correspondant
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaam Sulaiman-Ibrahim on Sunday stressed that online spaces should empower not endanger lives saying that digital abuse was real violence and internet space must be made safe for all.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated this during a Special Mass as part of activities to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism held at the Christ The King Catholic Church, CKC, Kubwa, Abuja.
Represented by Mrs. Anunike Blessing, Director, Women Development, FMWASD, she said that the essence of bringing the campaign to the church was to build synergy that will help fight against Gender-Based Violence and bring sanity to the society.
She said, “So Let’s make the internet space safe for all. This gathering reaffirms our sacred faith conviction that every woman and girl bears the image of God this divine teaching.
“It is indeed a profound privilege to join this sacred assembly today as we commemorate activism against gender-based violence, as we unite to end digital violence against all women and girls.
“And the message is clear. Online spaces should empower not to endanger. And digital abuse is real violence. So let’s make the internet space safe for all.
“This gathering reaffirms our sacred faith conviction that every woman and girl bears the image of God. As Holy Bible declares in Genesis 1:27, so God created mankind in his image, I quote, and in the image of God created them, male and female, he created them.”
The Minister said that this divine teaching demands their protection from all harm, echoing God’s compassionate heart as a mother who carries, nurtures, and shields her children.
She reaffirmed that Federal government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development remains steadfast in ending all forms of gender-based violence through targeted interventions such as threatening legal frameworks like specialized gender courts and the Violence Against Women Prohibition Act, establishing survivor-centered services, including safe spaces, emerging care, and the National GBV Emergency Response Fund, rolling out digital empowerment programs to combat online threats, and partnering with relevant organizations for community education and re-education support.
“Despite these interventions, you will agree with me that true transformation demands collective action rooted in Christian values of justice, compassion, and love for our neighbors. As believers, we are called to defend the vulnerable. I earnestly call on every one of us to join the fight against gender-based violence at various levels through both advocacy, community vigilance, and compassionate support for survivors.
“I believe that together, let us build a Nigeria where no woman, no girl, no man, no boy needs to fear. Because we are talking about not only violence against women.
“We are also fighting against violence against men and boys. It’s a holistic, it’s a comprehensive thing,” she concluded.
Also, Reverened Father Christopher Damina, during the Mass, called on the Justice system in Nigeria to always protect victims of Gender-Based Violence noting that they were not doing enough and the victims remained traumatised because justice was not served to deter abusers.
Damina urged that the Justice system in Nigeria has to be strengthened saying that, “If a person abuses or violates a minor, a child whether boy or girl, a woman, man, justice should be served and I will keep repeating that because that is the only way we can deter further perpetration of these crimes.”
He added that the church was committed in the fight against Gender-Based Violence urging that all hands must be on deck to curb the menace in the country.
