The Joining Forces Alliance in Zambia joins the international and national communities in celebrating the 19th edition of the safer Internet Day.
ChildFund Zambia Country Director Simba Machingaidze notes that this year’s day is being commemorated under a timely theme: “Together for a better Internet,” and reminds stakeholders across the globe to join efforts in making the internet safer and better for all, especially for children and young people.
Mr. Machingaidze states that “the call to making the internet safer is more pressing now than ever before especially that children’s lives are increasingly being lived on-line”.
He notes that as these interactions go on, there are also increased threats of on-line violence such as child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA), cyber-bullying, harassment, and grooming which are growing and can cause profound harm as they quickly reach wider audiences and remain accessible online for a long period of time.
Mr. Machingaidze has since called on the government through institutions like ZICTA and the Zambia Police to raise awareness to community members and children about the importance of protecting children from online abuse.
He has also urged government to ensure that all child online abuse cases, once reported are thoroughly and expeditiously investigated and perpetrators brought to book.
The ChildFund Country Director has also appealed to online Media Institutions and Individuals recognize among other things that no child (under 18years) can provide consent to have pictures, videos, recordings taken and be published in online spaces.
We wish to remind journalists, teachers and medical professionals of their responsibility in the use of technology and social media to help improve the lives of children by creating awareness on the rights of children. He stated
