Africa-Press – Namibia. PRESIDENT Hage Geingob said that Namibia has made significant progress in advancing the rights of children, but more still needs to be done, especially concerning the development of legislation and policies that prioritize children in the digital environment.
The president made these remarks in commemoration of the International Day of the African Child, which is celebrated annually on 16 June. This year, the day is commemorated under the theme “The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment.”
“The 16 June 1976 Soweto uprising was a turning point in the struggle for freedom in Southern Africa. The uprising demonstrated the bravery and determination of young people to end Apartheid and open a new chapter for the people of South Africa and the oppressed people of our region,” he said.
To honour the sacrifices made by young people 47 years ago, President Geingob emphasized the need to recognize how the world has changed with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He added that this is particularly important considering how changes in the digital environment have influenced and reshaped how children exercise and realize their rights.
“Children are increasingly exposed to the internet and the virtual environment. Therefore, the effects of the digital environment on children need to be considered in the context of rights under the African Charter and the United Nations Convention on Children’s Rights,” President Geingob said.
He acknowledged that children now have access to vast potential on the internet, including connectivity, education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. However, he added, there are evident threats alongside these opportunities. These threats include online child sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, abuse, and cybercrime. President Geingob emphasized that addressing these threats necessitates a multi-stakeholder approach to guarantee the promotion and protection of children’s rights.
According to him, the government has made progress in advancing the rights of children in the digital environment. He highlighted the implementation of the National Broadband Policy in 2020, which explicitly included children in the development of its advocacy and information dissemination strategies, as an example.
“We are further committed to ensuring that all schools have broadband infrastructure by 2030. In 2016, Namibia also signed the WePROTECT Global Alliance’s Statements of Action to Tackle Online Child Sexual Exploitation. A National Multi-Stakeholder Task Force was established to continuously monitor the implementation of the national framework and road map for child online protection,” he added.
While this progress is commendable, he said, more still needs to be done. This includes developing legislation and policies that prioritize children in the digital environment, strengthening awareness and capacity at the household level, and creating mechanisms to enforce accountability for children’s online safety. He called on parents, caregivers, the private sector, civil society organizations, and child and youth-led organizations to play their part in the promotion and protection of children’s rights in all spheres of society.
“As we mark the International Day of the African Child, let us hold hands and collaborate to uphold the rights of our children in the digital environment. Let us take decisive action to invest in digital literacy and equip children with tools to safely and responsibly navigate the digital world. Let us reaffirm our commitments to fostering a secure and enabling digital environment where all children can grow, innovate and learn. Together, as part of Agenda 2063: Africa We Want, we should build a better future for the children of the African House. Long live the African Child,” President Geingob said.
President Hage Geingob interacting with children on various occasions.
Source: Informanté
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