"Anti Social Media Bill": A shut down of Women's Voice!

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines freedom of expression as the right of every individual to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. The full protection of this right is important for every society.

In Nigeria, this right continues to suffer attack. There are clear and consistent attacks on freedom of information and expression in Nigeria. Attacks on journalists and media activists have continued unabated. There are also attempts to regulate free speech via legislative bills.

The bill prohibits statements on social media deemed “likely to be prejudicial to national security” and “those which may diminish public confidence” in Nigeria’s government. It proposes these offenses be punishable by a fine, a prison sentence of three years, or both. The bill also seeks to allow law enforcement agencies to order internet service providers to disable internet access. 

In honor of International Women's Day and as part of my 2020 WorldPulse Ambassador event. My organisation Girls Education Mission International  considering the need to protect the right to freedom of expression in Nigeria  have submitted a memo against the Anti Social Media Bill which was presented for public hearing on 9th March 2020 by the Senate Community on Judiciary,  Human Rights and Legal matters in Abuja the Capital City of Nigeria. The bill was presented in written in part thus:

"Girls Education Mission International  is delighted to submit this memorandum ahead of the planned public hearing to discuss the protection for internet falsehood and manipulation bill, 2019 (SB, B2) by the senate committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

As a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization on a mission to help women and girls in reaching their potentials with a focused on defending, protecting and promoting their rights, we hereby oppose this bill in it’s entirely. Our position is that the ongoing process to pass this bill must be discontinued because it is not in the best interest of Nigeria and most especially to the Nigerian women and girls and we have highlighted the issues below.

The provision of the bill in clause 3 contradicts the provision of the Nigerian constitution in section 37, which guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of expression.  Nowhere in the World do women have equal voice except on the social media.   

We hereby conclude and recommend that this bill be thrown out as it does not fit into the idea of a democratic society. We urge this committee to report back to the committee of the whole of the senate not be considered further in order to save this country the needless resources and time that will be spent on this suppressive and anti-people (women and girls most effected) draft legislation."

As a World Pulse Sister, having have my unheard voice grown globally with World Pulse and as a Digital Ambassador, I stand to say #NoToAntiSocialMediaBill in Nigeria. I call on all Nigerian Women say No to the Bill. Let us all #LogOnRiseUp at http://bit.ly/P2t8O1S  for International Women;s Day #IWD2020 #EachForEqual #SheTransformTech

Keturah Shammah

Executive Director

Girls Education Mission International

World Pulse Ambassador