|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
At the West Africa Feminist Data Summit 2026, Naija Feminists Media, represented by its Founding Director, Simbiat Bakare, urged for data documenting the socio-demographic characteristics of perpetrators of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV).
NFM Founding Director, Simbiat Bakare, speaking on feminist media narrative. Photo credit: NFM.
The West Africa Feminist Data Summit 2026 is a regional convening of feminists, data journalists, policymakers, and civic technologists aimed at transforming data into legislative action and stronger protections for women’s rights. The three-day summit hosted by the Women’s Leaders Development Network (RFLD) was held from July 28 to 30 in Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin.
NFM Simbiat Bakare with participants at the summit. Photo source: RFLD.
Speaking on the state of feminist data in West Africa, Simbiat referenced NFM’s daily feminist reporting to emphasise the evidence that shows TF-GBV is prevalent, yet there is not enough data on perpetrators. She recommended that every country should have feminist media that works with other civil society organisations, communities, and technologists to utilise media narratives as a tool to document male violence and bridge the gap with decision-makers.
Collaborating with other West African civil society organisations in the summit, including Pollicy and African NGOs, Naija Feminist Media drafted a regional policy on Femicide. The policy recommendation highlights the necessity for African countries to enact legislation on femicide and ensure femicide cases do not take more than six months before justice is served.
Naija Feminists Media with other stakeholders. Photo source: RFLD
The policy draft also recommended that a special court be set up to address femicide and other gender-based violence cases, as well as training legal practitioners and the executives to ensure femicide cases are properly treated and justice is served.
NFM Simbiat Bakare, presenting the policy brief. Photo source: RFLD.
Naija Feminists Media’s advocacy at the West Africa Feminist Data Summit forms part of its commitment to ensuring gender equality in Nigeria and beyond, utilising media, technology, and partnerships.
