The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr Solomon Ehigiator Arase, has condemned the increasing abuse women face online and emphasised the importance of police awareness, sensitivity in interactions with survivors, and proactive action to address this growing menace.
Arase said this in an advocacy visit by the TechHerNG team to his office in Abuja recently.
TechHer, an organisation committed to leveraging technology for social impact, met with the chairman of the commission to explore potential collaboration in the fight against Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV). TechHer also introduced Kuram, a homegrown reporting and response mechanism for incidents of online gender-based violence.
The delegation, led by the Executive Director of TechHerNG, Chioma Agwuegbo, expressed concern about the rise of OGBV and other forms of harm against women and girls, both online and offline. Agwuegbo emphasised the crucial role of security personnel in creating awareness, rigorous investigations and swift apprehension of perpetrators.
“Our mission is to partner with all the stakeholders in the access to justice route for online gender-based violence. We have isolated all the laws pertaining to online gender-based violence. We are developing a prosecutorial manual to enhance the police’s understanding of the legal framework concerning the escalating peril faced by women in digital spaces. This initiative aims to equip law enforcement with the necessary knowledge to effectively address and tackle the challenges posed by online gender-based violence,” she said.
The TechHer team, through its Women’s Rights & Safety Officer, Amina Salaudeen, appreciated the Police Service Commission’s exceptional efforts in preventing and combating gender-based violence through its dedicated gender desk and commitment to efficient policing.
“Kuram, derived from ‘Keep me Safe’ in Tiv, represents an innovative platform meticulously designed to empower OGBV survivors. It facilitates incident reporting, access to support, and essential resources.
“Furthermore, Kuram’s educational materials significantly contribute to TechHer’s holistic approach, fostering awareness about OGBV and promoting responsible online behaviour, especially among young individuals,” Salaudeen said.
