Forum condemns hate speech, others against women

The Nigerian Feminist forum (NFF) has condemned the hate speech and other denigrating acts against women within Nigeria’s public space, and in particular, within the social media.

This was contained in a statement by the NFF secretariat, which observed resurgence in hate speech and negative narratives against women.

The forum said the latest of such onslaught is the attack on the new Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe on the basis of her gender.

According to the statement, a social media user on May 29, 2019 took to his handle to react to the swearing in of the female elected leader with the following words, ‘‘Today a woman becomes the deputy governor of Kaduna state, I’m not going to tell you the danger that comes with having a woman as a leader, but if she’s going to be our governor come 2023, then I’m afraid there’s no hope for Kaduna State. Only downhill from there.

“  If there is going to be a woman leading a state (governor) please let it be in the southern part of this country. Keep it far away from the north’.

The forum said the above vitriol targets women, promotes discrimination against their political participation in leadership capacity and denies their right to dignity and equality before the law. 

 “In addition, its divisive nature further incites public sentiments against certain ethnic groups through its employment of hate speech. More importantly, it constitutes violence against women and denigrates their citizenship.

Leave a Reply