The lack of access to the Internet means exclusion, marked by the lack of access to information available online, fewer resources to learn and to grow, and limited opportunities for the most vulnerable children and youth to fulfill their potential.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, Dr. Joan Matji says the theme for this year “The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment” comes at the right time when the world is experiencing a huge transformation in the digital space.
She said UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children: Children in a Digital World report reveals that one in three internet users is younger than 18 years and 71% of 15–24-year-olds are online, making them the most connected age group worldwide.
The UNICEF Country Representative said in Botswana, the government has connected many schools and procured gadgets for secondary school students, which she noted is a clear indication that the majority of children are connected to the internet but that the biggest hurdle is child safeguarding.
Dr. Matji is of the view that along with the substantial opportunities, the digital age brings diverse risks and harms. “Digital technologies have increased the risk of online child sexual abuse and exploitation. Child sex offenders have increased access to children through unprotected social media profiles and online gaming forums,” he says, adding that technological advances have allowed individual offenders and trafficking rings to evade detection through encrypted platforms.
The UNICEF Country Representative said young people are not only at risk from adult exploitation as children can also obtain sexual or intimate photos of their peers and share them with or without the individual’s consent.
Dr. Matji added that digital advances have meant that bullying is no longer left at the school gates, highlighting that cyberbullying is a new method for bullies to hurt and humiliate their victims with the click of a button.
She also said parents, caregivers and policy makers have raised concerns about the time children spend using digital technology and its effect on their physical activity and mental health.
The UNICEF Country Representative highlighted that evidence suggests moderate use of digital technology can be beneficial to children’s mental wellbeing, whereas excessive use can be detrimental. She noted that some websites and apps present a risk to the health of vulnerable youth, such as those that promote self-harm, suicide, or anorexia and those that support underage activities, such as gambling.
Dr. Matji said children should also be protected from all forms of violence that happens in the digital environment, including child trafficking, gender-based violence, cyber-aggression, cyber-attacks and information warfare.
She emphasized the importance of listening to children to hear from them what they want adults to do, to ensure safe and equitable access to the digital space by the children of Botswana. She said to uphold children’s rights in the digital space, the government alone cannot guarantee child safety online as this requires a concerted effort from multiple stakeholders.
For his part, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mabuse Pule said it is important for the government to come up with laws that safeguard the rights and safety of children online.
Pule said it is important to regulate the use of online activity by children adding that parliament has passed laws like the Cybercrime Act to safeguard the safety of children online.