NANGO Celebrates Day of the African Child: Safeguarding Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment

The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) proudly joins the global community in celebrating the Day of the African Child (DAC), focusing on “The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment.” This important day serves as a reminder of the significance of promoting and protecting the rights of children in the digital age.

The digital revolution has brought unprecedented opportunities and challenges for children, shaping their lives and experiences in ways we could not have imagined before. As we celebrate the Day of the African Child, NANGO recognises the crucial need to ensure that children’s rights are upheld and safeguarded in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Under the theme “The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment,” NANGO reaffirms its commitment to advocating for children’s rights in all spheres of life, including the online world. The digital environment offers immense potential for education, creativity, and social connection. However, it also presents risks such as cyberbullying, online exploitation, increased digital inequalities (digital divide), and exposure to harmful content.

NANGO believes that every child deserves a safe and empowering digital experience. Through collaboration with government agencies, civil society organisations, technology companies, educators, and parents, we aim to address the challenges and promote the rights of children in the digital environment.

As NANGO, we commend the outstanding efforts of our members and other key stakeholders in advocating for the protection of children’s rights. Their unwavering commitment to this cause is truly commendable and has made a significant impact in ensuring that children are safeguarded from harm and exploitation. Together, we will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving this goal and creating a brighter future for generations to come.

As NANGO, we call upon policymakers, civil society organisations, parents, educators, and all stakeholders to prioritise the rights of the child in the digital environment. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that children have access to a digital space that promotes their well-being, protects their rights, and fosters their holistic development.

We proffer the following recommendations for NGOs, the Private Sector, and the Government in Zimbabwe regarding The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment:

For Civil Society Organisations:

• Advocate for comprehensive child protection policies and guidelines specific to the digital environment.
• Raise awareness about the importance of protecting children’s rights online and provide resources for parents, educators, and children themselves.
• Collaborate with other NGOs, government agencies, and the private sector to develop and implement digital literacy programmes that empower children to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
• Provide support services, helplines, and counselling for children who have experienced online abuse or harassment. Work towards creating safe spaces for reporting incidents and seeking assistance.
• Engage in research and data collection to understand the impact of the digital environment on children’s rights and use the findings to inform advocacy efforts and policy recommendations.
• Partner with technology companies and social media platforms to develop age-appropriate content filters, moderation tools, and privacy settings to protect children from harmful or inappropriate content.

For the Private Sector:

• Develop and enforce corporate policies and practices that prioritise the safety and well-being of children online.
• Establish guidelines for responsible data collection and usage, ensuring compliance with local laws and international standards.
• Invest in the development of child-friendly digital platforms, products, and services that promote positive engagement, education, and creativity while safeguarding children’s rights.
• Support NGOs and initiatives that focus on child protection in the digital environment through collaborations, funding, and expertise sharing.
• Provide digital literacy training for employees to raise awareness about the potential risks children face online and encourage responsible business practices that prioritise child protection.
• Implement mechanisms for reporting and addressing online abuse, cyberbullying, and child exploitation on platforms or services provided by the private sector.

For the Government:

• Develop and enforce comprehensive legislation and regulations that specifically address child protection in the digital environment, including measures to combat cyberbullying, online harassment, and child exploitation.
• Collaborate with other key stakeholders to integrate digital literacy and online safety education into the national curriculum.
• Strengthen law enforcement capacity to investigate and prosecute cases of online child abuse, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.
• Establish national hotlines or helplines to provide support, counselling, and reporting mechanisms for children and families affected by online abuse or exploitation.
• Allocate adequate resources for research, data collection, and monitoring to assess the impact of the digital environment on children’s rights and inform evidence-based policy development.

By implementing these recommendations, we can collectively contribute to creating a safer and more inclusive digital environment for children, where their rights are protected, and their well-being is prioritised. Together, we can create a brighter future for our children, where they can thrive, learn, and explore the digital world safely.