Report reveals rise in online child sexual abuse

 

Parents and caregivers are mandated by the law to provide guidance to children under their care. [iStockphoto]

Teenagers aged between 12 and 17 years are facing a shocking rise in online sexual exploitation and abuse, a new report now reveals. 

The report revealed by ChildFund ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001464792/online-child-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse-and-the-role-of-stakeholders-in-curbing-it">International Africa Region< and Africa Child Policy Forum (ACPF) indicates that 13 per cent of children between the ages of 12 to 17 years in the country have been threatened or blackmailed to engage in sexual activities online. 

The vice, that the survey highlights is taking root across Africa, and has been occasioned by the increase in access to technology tools and the internet, especially social media. 

"Africa is witnessing a problem that is sharply on the rise, and the evidence shows that Africa may be the new frontier for online sexual predators," said ACPF Executive Director, Joan Nyanyuki.

While acknowledging the ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/world/article/2001495956/over-300-million-children-a-year-face-sexual-abuse-online-study#google_vignette">lack of comprehensive< study to document the extent of the issue, a survey revealed that more than 60 per cent of unidentified victims were "extremely" young children.

"The report surveyed other African countries where around a fifth of children under 17 have received unsolicited online requests to talk about sex or sexual acts... The pervasive attitude that online crimes are not real crimes has created an atmosphere of virtual lawlessness," she said. 

ChildFund Africa Regional Director, Chege Ngugi, also ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001407466/create-awareness-on-how-children-are-abused-online">emphasised the growing concern< on policy gaps to regulate the use of digital platforms that expose children to the dangers of sexual abuse. 

"Inadequate laws and services, including fledgling technology-based surveillance and underdeveloped digital forensics capacity, have largely contributed to a fertile ground for potential sex criminals," he said. 

Recent policy briefs from ChilFund and ACPF show up to 13 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds in Kenya and Mozambique were threatened or blackmailed to engage in sexual activities online.

"On average, seven per cent of children shared sexualized images of themselves online, while one-third of 9-17-year-olds in South Africa and over a quarter of 12-17-year-olds in Mozambique went onto a face-to-face meeting after an online contact," Ngugi stated.