MASERU– Children have been urged to actively participate in decisions and processes that affect their lives, as the country continues efforts to strengthen the protection of children in the digital environment.
Speaking at the National Children’s Parliament Simulation Session held at the Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Justice Nthomeng Majara said child participation was provided for under the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act of 2011, which recognises the importance of giving children meaningful opportunities to participate in matters affecting them, according to their age and maturity.
She said it was important for authorities to respond to issues raised by children, noting that the theme of this year’s Children’s Parliament, “Making Child Online Protection a Policy Priority in Lesotho,” was timely.
Justice Majara said the increasing use of digital platforms had created opportunities for children to access information, education and communication, but also exposed them to risks such as cyberbullying, online exploitation and harmful digital content.
She said while the country had ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and enacted the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act of 2011, there was a need to ensure that children were also adequately protected in digital environments.
“Today’s session could not have come at a better time, as one of the most critical issues demanding our attention is online safety,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mrs. Anna Mukiibi said the session was more than a simulation exercise, as it provided children with a platform to express their views on community, district and national issues affecting their lives and well-being.
She said children’s participation enabled them to engage with policymakers and decision-makers and influence decisions that ultimately affected their lives.
Mrs. Mukiibi said as children increasingly used mobile phones, social media, online learning platforms and other digital services, it was the shared responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that the digital world was safe, protective and empowering.
She said protecting children online was not only a technology issue, but also a child rights, education, social protection and development issue.
Mrs. Mukiibi pointed out that the Government, through the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science Technology and Innovation and the Lesotho Communications Authority, had taken steps towards the development of Child Online Protection Guidelines.
She added that UNICEF and other development partners were supporting cyber readiness and child-centred digital safety initiatives.
World Vision Country Director Mr. James Chifwelu Nkemba said the Children’s Parliament was a powerful platform that gave children an opportunity to speak on issues affecting their lives.
He said child rights extended to the online environment and should be protected and fulfilled in the same way as they were offline.
Mr. Nkemba said children faced challenges such as privacy violations and exposure to harmful content online, adding that parents, caregivers and teachers had an important role to play in protecting children.
He said although there was no clear legislation specifically addressing some online child protection issues, existing laws could still be used to address certain violations.
Mr. Nkemba said efforts to protect children online required commitment from all stakeholders and the creation of safe spaces where children could freely express themselves.
He commended the children for their courage and participation, saying their voices and ideas were important in building a stronger Lesotho.
The session brought together children from across the country’s 10 districts, government officials, Members of Parliament, development partners and other stakeholders.
Ends/MAMA
