Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Mvilawemphi Dlamini, convened a session with key national and international stakeholders to develop Eswatini’s first Child Online Protection Strategy at Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane.
According to ESCCOM, the initiative aims to confront the escalating digital threats facing children across the Kingdom and forms a critical component of the broader National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022–2027.
The high-level event was attended by delegates from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of ICT, the Royal Eswatini Police Service, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It marked a pivotal step in securing the digital safety of Eswatini’s children.
Dlamini reflected on the disturbing rise in violence and abductions targeting young children in the country. “It pains the heart to realise how some members of our society have lost the essence of humanity,” he said, expressing heartfelt condolences to affected families and underlining the urgency of a unified response.
This engagement forms part of the implementation of Strategic Goal Number 4 under the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022–2027, which focuses on fostering a safe and secure information society.
The proposed Child Online Protection Strategy aims to address several digital threats, including cyberbullying, sextortion, sexual grooming, and the misuse of artificial intelligence in generating deep fake content.
Dlamini emphasised the importance of unity and strong leadership in addressing these challenges. “Let this moment be a call for us to fortify the walls around our children, not with stone and mortar, but with policy, education, technology, and collective action,” he stated.
With support from the ITU, the forum provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange insights, reinforce partnerships, and contribute to the creation of a comprehensive and actionable framework to protect Eswatini’s children online.
ESCCOMs CEO reminded the Nation with a siSwati proverb “Bantfwana bangumliba loya embili,” which means the future of the country depends on the protection and well-being of its youngest citizens. This engagement marks a hopeful chapter in securing that future.
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