Empowering Change: Taibat’s Advocacy for Digital Safety and Combating Gender-Based Violence

They say, ‘Do the work, even when no one’s watching.’ They also say, ‘It will pay off someday.’ Over the last two days at the Summit, I witnessed the truth in those words.

Taibat Hussain

In recent years, Taibat has been at the forefront of advocating for research and initiatives aimed at preventing and addressing gender-based violence (GBV), particularly in schools. This includes technology-facilitated forms such as online child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as image-based sexual abuse and harassment. Her approach combines community education with innovative digital solutions. Through workshops and awareness campaigns, she has engaged children, young people, and local communities, equipping them with essential knowledge to identify and prevent online abuse, harassment, and exploitation. These efforts have fostered a more informed and proactive community ready to confront the challenges of technology-facilitated GBV.

Additionally, Taibat has played a crucial role in developing and promoting digital platforms that enhance knowledge and provide immediate support to survivors. She led the creation of a Gen Z gamification platform, Sorosoke, which empowers individuals to seek help and find safety in the digital landscape through interactive games and chatbots.

Her journey to the Youth Power Summit began with a call for applications and a firm belief that addressing online GBV is urgent. While conducting research for her PhD at the University of East Anglia, she felt strongly that her work should translate into advocacy and education for young people, by young people. With this conviction, she submitted her application and was fortunate enough to be selected as one of five winning sessions from over 400 submissions, a testament to the selection panel’s recognition of this critical issue.

On the summit’s first day, her session, “Digital Safety Reimagined: Cutting-Edge Innovations to Combat Online GBV,” brought together young advocates and allies dedicated to ending technology-facilitated GBV. It provided a safe space to share ongoing initiatives, personal experiences, and innovative solutions. Participants heard from survivors whose experiences led to the creation of Safecity, a crowdsourced platform for collecting anonymous reports of sexual and gender-based harassment and abuse. These reports are aggregated and visualised on a map, providing valuable data for individuals, communities, and policymakers.

Taibat believes that every child and young person deserves to be safe online. While gender-based violence is never justifiable, it is preventable. During her session, the group also addressed the challenges of mobilising resources and investment toward GBV prevention. A key takeaway from their discussions was the recognition that GBV is a continuum; the violence experienced online by children and young people is closely linked to their offline experiences. As they advocate for increased funding, a holistic approach that addresses GBV in all its forms is essential.

She feels that her presence at the Youth Power Summit was destined. It provided an opportunity to highlight the issue of online GBV as preparations are underway for the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children and Girls. It was strategic to have youth mobiliser Marie Mokuba on the panel to share insights about ensuring that the voices of young people (aged 16 to 29) are reflected in the Youth Manifesto for ending violence against children. Marie discussed various ways young people could contribute to this important work.

A highlight of the day for Taibat was the participant-led group discussions, where young people at the heart of the summit could explore the many forms of technology-facilitated GBV, strategies for prevention and response, and their messages to the ministers who will gather for this historic moment in November. Regardless of the languages spoken during her session—whether Yoruba, English, or Spanish—the unified message was clear: make the online space safe for children and young people without compromising their digital rights!

Beyond her session, Taibat attended various other discussions and activities throughout the summit. The quality of conversations was thought-provoking, and the power emanating from the young people was palpable. Using art, videos, and creative tools to express the issues that matter to them demonstrated the many ways youth take charge and spotlight critical issues.

The Youth Power Summit has been empowering and transformative for Taibat. As she returns home, she carries with her renewed hope for the future and a deep belief in the power of young people to bring about the change they wish to see.

Taibat Hussain is a dedicated advocate for education, gender equality, and youth empowerment with over six years of experience across three continents. As a doctoral researcher at the University of East Anglia, she focuses on gender-based violence in educational settings. She holds two MSc degrees and leads the Rising Child Foundation, promoting safe learning environments in Nigeria. Taibat’s initiatives, like #StampOutGBV, have reached over 3000 students. She collaborates with international organizations and has contributed to significant research projects. Her advocacy has led to policy changes, and she is a sought-after speaker at high-level events.