Online Safety Champions Campaign Launched in Kenya
The Online Safety Champions Campaign was successfully launched online in Kenya on 12th September 2023. The campaign aims to raise awareness on OCSE, encourage stakeholders to play their role in preventing OCSE and ultimately promote the digital online safety of children.
Prevalence of OCSE
Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE) has a profound effect on the social, physical and emotional well-being of children. It manifests in a variety of forms which include but are not limited to online grooming, sextortion, sharing of child sexual abuse material, livestreaming and sexting.
The 2021 Disrupting Harm Report illustrates that two-thirds of internet-using children have not been taught about how to stay safe online; on the other hand, the children who have fallen victim to OCSEA mentioned social media, Facebook and WhatsApp as the most popular platforms where this occurred. These findings also highlighted that 5 and 13 per cent of internet-using children, aged 12-17, reported experiencing online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA). However, it is believed this number is likely higher as most children do not disclose this information due to the stigma attached to the abuse. It is becoming increasingly vital for all actors, to take effective and concrete action to combat OCSE.
#OnlineSafetyChampions Campaign
To promote the safety of children online, we launched the #OnlineSafetyChampions campaign under the SCROL programme. We are calling upon Government officials, law enforcement agencies, children, parents and communities to ´Play their role´ in ending Online Child Sexual Exploitation. By the end of the campaign period, we aim to sensitize more children and parents on OCSE, its forms, effects, prevention and effective reporting mechanisms. We also envision that Government officials will be actively involved in addressing OCSE cases and OCSE incidents will be reduced in the selected counties; Kisumu, Kilifi and Nairobi.
Play your role
Various campaign messages will be directed towards different stakeholders. The Government is urged to equip children with essential information for safer internet usage, and support children's assemblies and child rights clubs in raising awareness about OCSE. Law enforcement officials are called upon to proactively identify and investigate individuals involved in OCSE, collaborate with tech companies, and strengthen the reporting systems. Parents are encouraged to empower their children with online safety practices, including setting strong passwords. Children are reminded to stay SMART online (Safe, Meet, Accept, Reliable, Tell). Additionally, development partners, international entities, industries, the private sector, civil society organizations, and community members are urged to work collaboratively to ensure the successful implementation of the 2022-2026 National Plan of Action to Tackle Online Child Sexual Exploitation in Kenya.
Every child deserves a secure online space. By uniting against OCSE, we will shape a digital world where children can explore, learn, and flourish safely.
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