By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A media-based Civil Society Organization, Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD), on Wednesday led a symbolic Stand Still Activity at the Dogon Yaro Roundabout in Bauchi to mark the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Addressing placards carrying participants, the Executive Director of J4PD, Elizabeth Carr, said the organisation chose to “stand still” not in silence but “in strength,” in solidarity with victims of online harassment and cyberviolence.
“Today, we stand still — not in silence, but in strength,” she declared. “We stand for every girl whose voice has been attacked online. We stand for every woman whose pictures were misused, whose identity was stolen, whose dignity was violated on the internet.”
Carr described digital platforms as modern public spaces where women and girls deserve safety, dignity, and freedom to learn, work, lead, and express themselves.
She warned that increasing cases of cyberbullying, online harassment, identity theft, and non-consensual image sharing represent an urgent threat that must be tackled.
“Digital spaces must be safe spaces,” she said. “We say enough — enough harassment, enough cyberbullying, enough violence. Today we unite, and together we will end digital violence against women and girls.”
The ED then urged government agencies, policymakers, and technology platforms to strengthen regulations that protect users—especially women and girls from online abuse.
She also reiterated J4PD’s commitment to working with stakeholders across sectors to end gender-based violence in all forms—offline and online.
There were goodwill messages from Bauchi State Ministries of Justice, Women Affairs, Human Rights, Commission, FIDA, NAWOJ, Security Agencies and some CSOs.
