The Commissioner for Youth and Children Affairs at Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), Fred Ngabirano has urged parents to protect their children especially girls against online digital abuse which has become a harsh reality in Uganda, with the advancement of technology and widespread digital gadgets.
“With many children and women facing online harassment, bullying and exploitation, this violence knows no boundaries and it affects individuals from all walks of life. We’ve had the orange sellers, public figures who have become victims of digital violence” he said.
Mr Ngabirano made the remarks in a speech delivered on his behalf by the head of the Department of Child and Family Protection, Naguru Police Headquarters SSP Ruth Kintu during the commemoration of the 16 days of activism against women and girls themed, “Unite to end digital violence against all women and girls” at Kinawataka- Acholi quarters playground, in Kampala City on Thursday.
Mr Ngabirano said to curb digital abuse, government has developed laws and policies to regulate online behaviour with the intention to protect women and children.
“Some of these laws include the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995, where a right to privacy is so emphasised, we have the Computer Misuse Act, the Data Protection Act, the Penal Code and the UCC Act. All these laws are enacted to make sure that the most vulnerable of communities, that is children and women, are protected from cyber abuse” he said.
Mr Ngabirano noted that government has also established departments to that are intentional in investigating areas where digital violence has occurred.
“We have the Cyber Department, under the Criminal Investigation Department. Development partners like Rights to Play, your efforts are so much appreciated and they are crucial in building the most vulnerable of societies with the skills that can help them protect against abuse, especially the cyber service. Through the skills you equip these people with, they are able to build resilience against digital abuse” he said.
Ms Kintu further urged the community to support members who have faced online abuse instead of victimising them to enable them recover for the abuse.
Ms Sylvia Hope Masika, the Right to Play Country Program Manager, said even though technology holds tremendous power to educate, connect, inform, and transform lives, for millions of women and girls, the digital world has become another place where they are silenced, shamed, and harmed.
“A global statement from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says that between 16% and 58% of women worldwide have faced some form of digital violence…From cyberbullying and cyberstalking, to online blackmail, grooming, misinformation, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, digital violence has become a new frontier of gender inequality” she said.
Ms Masika who was representing the country director Country Director Titus Tumusiime, noted the need to expand awareness and digital safety campaigns that equip girls and young women with skills to protect themselves online and strengthening reporting and referral pathways for survivors of online abuse, including psychosocial support and refer for legal assistance.
“Government should strengthen the legal and policy framework, invest in capacity building for law enforcement, protect children and young people by integrating digital literacy, online safety, and responsible digital citizenship into the school curriculum” she said.
She added, “We need to bridge the digital divide, strengthen collaboration with telecoms and technology with enforceable standards, allocate adequate resources and strengthen accountability and coordination among ministries, civil society, private sector partners, and community structures among other initiatives to curb the growing violence against women and girls”
Ms Rosemary Atuhairwe who represented the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association Ltd (UWOPA) secretariat urged parents to engage children during the long holidays to avoid them from being idle and resorting to the internet where they may end up finding abusers online.
Atuhairwe further advised couples regulate habits like drinking and choose discussion to resolve conflicts between them instead of resorting to domestic violence which spirals out to the whole family affecting the children in the process.
