Access to the internet has increased over the past years, and Rwanda has been at the forefront of digital transformation, with the internet as an enabler for various essential services for families and their children, but there are also growing concerns about children's safety online.
Such concerns were again raised at the celebration of African Child Day, on Friday, June 16, in Kigali by stakeholders including officials in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion.
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The African Child Day was marked under the theme: "The Rights of the Child in the digital environment,” as set by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).
The Day is held annually on June 16 by all member states of the African Union (AU). The theme also aligns with the Child Online Protection Policy established by the Government of Rwanda in June 2019.
On the occasion, a three-month campaign on child online protection was launched to raise public awareness about children&039;s rights in the digital era and measures to protect them from online or offline abuse.
Nadine Gatsinzi Umutoni, the Director General of the National Child Development Agency (NCD), stated that it is critical for raising understanding of the promotion and protection of children's rights in the digital environment.
"Because technology has become an essential part of our daily lives, there is no way we can deny our children the benefits that come with it. However, we must be proactive in ensuring our children's online safety," she emphasized.
The responsibility of protecting children in digital spaces, according to David Kanamugire, the CEO of Rwanda's National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA), is not restricted to parents and teachers.
It should be a communal obligation that requires the participation of numerous stakeholders, he noted, such as government institutions, internet service providers, and media outlets. The latter cannot do so if they are not sufficiently versed on the subject themselves, he said.
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Activities such as disseminating messages to raise public awareness about children&039;s rights in the digital era and their protection through mass media, social media, and promotional tools, were conducted during the celebrations.
Sequence dialogues were held with teachers and children on child rights in the digital environment and child online protection in schools.
A children's representative, Aime Umugwaneza, noted that having certain content controlled by age is insufficient.
"The moment you see something rated for over 18, the more curious you become about it," she explained, adding: "Sometimes we drive ourselves to potential internet dangers like cyberbullying, sexting, and online grooming.”
"Instead of simply imposing restrictions, you may educate and equip us to protect ourselves and others from such risks."
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Prior to the event, a half-day workshop was organized with media owners or editors and YouTubers to discuss how media can contribute to the promotion and protection of children&039;s rights in digital cyberspace.
The campaign on child online protection (June-September 2023) aims to advocate for control tools development and installation for home internet service providers to protect children from online abuse.
Quoting the Fifth Rwanda Population and Housing Census, which showed that there has been a 14% increase in the population aged 10 and above who used the internet in the 12 months preceding the census, Gender and Family Promotion Minister Jeannette Bayisenge made a call to stakeholders, saying that it is now more than ever vital to promote safer digital practices for children.