On Human Rights Day 2025, the world reasserts a continued promise that human rights are the everyday essentials of a life lived in freedom and dignity. Seventy-seven years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations,” a global blueprint for laws and policies, and a bedrock of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In today’s turbulent and unpredictable times, this common standard remains our moral compass. Human rights are not abstract ideals; they are the daily necessities we rely on, the freedom to speak, to learn, to work with dignity, to feel safe and equal. Recommitting to these values now is more than symbolic; it is an essential investment in the collective wellbeing of humanity.

Human rights shape our everyday lives in ways we may not always notice. They are in the food we eat, the air we breathe, the care we receive, and the opportunities we pursue. As society has evolved, so too have the arenas in which our rights are exercised and threatened. Today, a large part of our lives unfolds in digital spaces. We work, learn, share, and connect through online platforms. These spaces offer extraordinary opportunities for expression, engagement, and inclusion, but they have also become the new battlegrounds where human rights are under daily siege. Too often, digital environments are exploited as arenas for abuse, disinformation, and violence that deeply undermine the core of our human dignity.

Across the world, we are witnessing an alarming rise in digital human rights violations. These include online harassment, cyberstalking, sexual exploitation through non-consensual images, misogynistic hate speech, and malicious disinformation campaigns. These acts are not simply “internet problems” or “mere insults”, they are forms of violence and discrimination with lasting, real-world consequences. In some African countries, nearly one in three women reports having experienced online violence. Meanwhile, an estimated 90 to 95 per cent of all deepfake videos online are non-consensual, sexualised images of women. These are not abstract statistics. They are a reflection of lives and reputations shattered, of voices silenced, and of digital tools being weaponised to humiliate, threaten, and erase.

We must be unequivocal in that digital violence is real violence. When a woman receives a barrage of threats on social media, when malicious falsehoods are spread virally to destroy her credibility, or when a fabricated explicit video is released to shame and intimidate her, the trauma inflicted is as tangible as any physical attack. These abuses violate the most basic rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration, the right to security of person, to privacy, to honour and reputation, and to be free from degrading or inhumane treatment. They also attack the very right to speak freely, by forcing the target to withdraw from the public sphere. Online abuses, in this light, are not merely inconvenient insults; they are antithetical to the everyday essentials that human rights protect.

In our current digital age, the battle for human rights is also a battle for truth. The spread of disinformation, doctored imagery, and algorithm-driven hostility is not just a threat to journalism or politics; it is a direct attack on human dignity. “Ododo kì í ṣeré; bí o bá ti kó, ó máa tàn,” says a Yoruba proverb: “Truth is not a toy; once gathered, it will shine.” When truth is manipulated or weaponised, our shared reality is fractured. Rumours and lies, disproportionately targeting women, minorities, and public figures, become tools of social coercion and intimidation. We see this in fake narratives designed to justify abuse, in videos meant to incite rage, and in conspiracies that turn digital spaces into dangerous echo chambers of secondary victimisation. Protecting truth in the digital sphere is therefore not a partisan pursuit; it is a human rights imperative. A society that permits the erosion of facts will soon permit the erosion of freedoms.

Critically, upholding truth and dignity online is not in contradiction with freedom of expression; it is its guarantor. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the right to free speech, but it never grants permission to harass, defame, or endanger others. Rights come with responsibilities. A healthy digital democracy requires not just open discourse, but respectful discourse, one in which no one is silenced by fear. When women are pushed out of conversations, when human rights defenders are vilified, or when survivors are mocked into silence, the loss is not personal; it is civic. The line between expression and violence must be drawn clearly, and it must be defended.

There is a dangerous idea that women in public life, particularly those in leadership, should expect or accept abuse as part of their role. This idea must be rejected entirely. Dignity does not diminish with visibility. Whether one is a private citizen, a teacher, a midwife, a journalist, or a public advocate, the same rights apply. To suggest otherwise is to carve out an inequitable two-tier system of human worth. Such a double standard cannot coexist with the principle that all persons are born free and equal in dignity. It is not just morally wrong; it is a betrayal of the universal standard to which every human being is entitled. When society shrugs at the abuse of prominent women online, it sends a chilling message to future generations that leadership comes at the cost of safety. That is not empowerment; it is silencing by design.

As we mark the close of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, on the International Day for Human Rights 2025, we must remember that the digital domain is not separate from the world we seek to improve; it is its mirror and magnifier. Digital violence against women and girls is not a niche concern. It is a modern continuation of gender-based violence that transcends borders, identities, and screens, and so, as the 16 Days campaign ends and Human Rights Day begins, we are reminded that our work is not seasonal, but continual. Human rights must be defended every day, in every space, for every person.

To move from principle to protection, governments must update laws to recognise and address digital harms with urgency and care. Technology companies must be held accountable for the content and systems they host and amplify. Civil society must be supported in its efforts to educate, respond, and advocate, and we, as individuals, must refuse to normalise cruelty online. Every choice to uphold another’s dignity, every act of truth-telling, and every effort to build safer digital communities contribute to a future that is freer and more just.

At the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, I have long witnessed the power of rights-based approaches in health and education. This insight applies equally to the digital landscape. If we want technology to empower rather than endanger, we must infuse it with values that reflect our shared humanity. That means embedding human rights into the architecture of digital life, designing platforms and policies that protect dignity, foster inclusion, and enable everyone, especially women and girls, to participate fully and safely.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was one of history’s most visionary declarations. Our task now is to realise its promise in an age defined by algorithms and connectivity. Truth is not a toy; once gathered, it will shine, and neither is dignity; it is not optional, conditional, or selective. It is our everyday essential. Let us protect it, for ourselves and for each other, wherever we are, on the street, in the home, and yes, on every screen.

Each year, Pan-African Women’s Day (PAWD) reminds us of the enduring legacy, resilience, and leadership of African women. However, as we celebrate, we must also confront a lingering truth: far too many pregnant and breastfeeding women in Africa are still left behind in HIV prevention efforts. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are not merely recipients of care, they are architects of community wellbeing, leaders within households and societies, and central to the intergenerational health equity we must pursue.

The theme for PAWD 2025, “Advancing Social and Economic Justice for African Women through Reparations”, reminds us of the critical need to address systemic social and economic inequalities hindering women’s empowerment and advancement. PAWD 2025 coincides with the World Breastfeeding Week 2025, themed “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.” Therefore, we are also called to translate that legacy into concrete action for the next generation, starting from pregnancy and the earliest days of life. This year, we call for an intentional shift to integrate HIV prevention, including PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT), and Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) into the broader maternal and child health ecosystem. Doing so is not only scientifically sound; it is a moral and human rights imperative, and a step toward redressing historic injustices through maternal health equity.

A Gendered Lens on HIV Prevention

The African Union Commission (AUC) has long championed the rights of African women and girls. AU frameworks, including the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), the AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, and the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB, and Malaria by 2030, guarantees equitable and affordable access to HIV prevention and treatment services. Nonetheless, gender inequality continues to drive HIV vulnerability, especially among adolescent girls, young women, and mothers. On a continent where women bear the brunt of both unpaid care work and HIV infections, we must place pregnant and breastfeeding women at the heart of HIV prevention strategies.

Pan-African Women’s Day is more than a celebration; it is a policy moment. We should use this occasion to strengthen the link between reproductive health, HIV prevention, and gender equity. In our communities, we have witnessed firsthand ways midwives and frontline workers can transform maternal care when equipped with the tools, training, and trust to do so. We need to reimagine HIV prevention not as a siloed programme, but as a foundational component of respectful, comprehensive, gender-responsive maternal health.

Breastfeeding as a Health Justice Issue

The 2025 World Breastfeeding Week theme urges us to prioritise breastfeeding through sustainable systems- systems that must also prioritise the health and HIV status of the mother and child. Offering long-acting PrEP like CAB-LA, ensuring routine HIV testing during antenatal care, and integrating EID into immunisation schedules are essential to building that system. This is how we ensure that breastfeeding is not only a biological bond, but also a protective, empowering act, free of fear, stigma, or silence. Sustainable breastfeeding support must include comprehensive maternal diagnostics and wraparound care. Let us also ensure that every woman is met with dignity, discretion, and informed choice  whether through access to long-acting PrEP, timely testing, or compassionate postpartum support.

A United African Response

We must elevate community engagement, involve Traditional and Religious leaders, and support healthcare workers who are often themselves women and the first and sometimes only line of care for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Pan-African leadership on all levels, from governments to grassroots, must ensure that every mother has access to life-saving HIV prevention tools. Transforming outcomes for mothers and babies requires systems change, built on multisectoral partnerships. From ministries to midwives, from labs to legislatures, we must align our investments with our aspirations, for a future where no woman is left behind.

The AUC Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate and Africa REACH Leadership Council stand together to say: African women should live, lead, and breastfeed without the shadow of HIV. As we celebrate Pan-African Women’s Day and Breastfeeding Week, let us continue to advocate for and implement policies that lead to health emancipation. May we renew our collective resolve to ensure that African women can live, lead, and nourish the next generation, in health, in dignity, and in freedom from HIV.

Happy Pan-African Women’s Day!

LAGOS, NIGERIA | 28th June 2025 – Her Excellency Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki, Founder and President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, has been officially inducted into the Friends of FLAC network, a distinguished alliance of national leaders, advocates, and partners committed to strengthening cancer care and prevention across Nigeria.

The induction took place during the Friends of FLAC Induction and Book Launch: Renewed Hope for Cancer Patients, held in Lagos and convened by First Ladies Against Cancer with the support of global oncology leader Roche. Her Excellency was represented at the event by her Wellbeing Foundation Africa team, who joined current and former first ladies, as well as stakeholders from across the country, in reaffirming a unified and multi-sectoral approach to cancer care.

“It is a profound honour to be inducted into the Friends of FLAC network,” said H.E. Mrs Saraki. “As the cancer burden in Nigeria continues to rise, we must act with strategic clarity and urgent compassion. This network represents a vital opportunity to expand access to prevention, screening, and treatment services, and to ensure no Nigerian, particularly women and girls, is left behind.”

As part of the event, FLAC hosted its 2025 Mid-Year Meeting, where members signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, establishing a coordinated framework for nationwide cancer interventions. The meeting also featured the screening of “What I Don’t Know Won’t Kill Me”, a transformative documentary highlighting cervical cancer awareness and early detection.

Representing WBFA’s longstanding commitment to women’s health and cancer advocacy, the Foundation’s presence reinforced the integration of breast and cervical cancer screening into maternal health systems. Through its flagship Mamacare360 Antenatal and Postnatal Education Programme, WBFA continues to deliver frontline education, self-examination training, and referral services to women across Nigeria, while also advocating for HPV vaccination and the strengthening of health data systems.

Her Excellency also extended her commendation to the outgoing FLAC Chair, Her Excellency Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, for her resolute leadership and advocacy, as she assumes her new global role as President-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control. She warmly welcomed Her Excellency Chief Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, First Lady of Imo State, as the newly elected Chairperson of FLAC, noting her dedication to inclusive development and public service.

“As we move forward under new leadership and strengthened partnerships,” Mrs Saraki noted, “we remain steadfast in our belief that health is a foundation for national prosperity. Working together, we will continue to transform cancer in Nigeria from a sentence of fear into a future of survivorship and restored hope.”

Media Contact:
Zelia Bukhari –  The Wellbeing Foundation Africa
Email: zelia.bukhari@wbfafrica.org

H.E. Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki, Founder and President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, has been appointed as a member of the Bayer Sustainability Council, joining a distinguished global cohort of experts dedicated to advancing sustainability through health equity, food security, and climate resilience.

Bayer AG today announced the restructuring of its independent Sustainability Council, welcoming five new members: H.E. Mrs Toyin Saraki, Facundo Etchebehere, Lisa Lange, Philipp Roesler, and Cori Wittman Stitt. The Council serves as a high-level advisory body guiding Bayer’s strategy and performance on sustainability, ensuring that the company’s global goals are informed by diverse, real-world expertise.

H.E. Mrs Saraki’s appointment brings a wealth of experience in maternal, newborn, and child health; gender equity; and community health system strengthening, areas she has championed for over two decades across Africa and globally.

“It is an honour to join Bayer’s Sustainability Council at such a pivotal moment for our planet and its people. As we look to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, our collective responsibility is to ensure that sustainability is not an abstract ideal but a lived reality, especially for the most vulnerable populations. In this spirit of being Stronger Together, I look forward to contributing my insights from frontline Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health, plus Nutrition RMNCAH+N, and to strengthening the link between community health systems and corporate sustainability commitments,” said H.E. Mrs Toyin Saraki.

The newly restructured Council will work more closely with Bayer’s internal sustainability teams and operational working groups, helping accelerate the company’s progress toward its 2030 targets in areas including regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, and access to healthcare.

H.E. Mrs Saraki joins a multidisciplinary group of sustainability leaders, with continuing members including Professor Ashok Gulati (India), Professor Christian Klein (Germany), Carolyn Miles (USA), and Dante Pesce Gonzalez (Chile). The Council embodies a Health for All, Hunger for None approach to sustainability, one that bridges sectors, disciplines, and communities to create enduring impact.

Through her leadership at the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and advisory roles with global institutions, H.E. Mrs Saraki has consistently worked to align public health delivery with human rights, gender justice, and sustainable development. Her appointment highlights the vital role of African leadership and frontline insight in shaping global sustainability agendas.

<Read Official Bayer Press Release>

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For Media Enquiries:
Zelia Bukhari – zelia.bukhari@wbfafrica.org