Children exposed: Online abuse cases spike across Africa

AI ILLUSTRATION

Stakeholders have raised concern over the rising cases of online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Africa, warning that the continent’s rapid digital growth is exposing children to new risks.

The concerns emerged during a roundtable convened in Nairobi by ChildFund International, which brought together government officials, civil society actors and academics to address digital safety for children.

Participants noted that while internet access is expanding across Africa, safety measures are not keeping pace, leaving children increasingly vulnerable online.

Some of the participants at the ChildFund roundtable./HANDOUT

However, stakeholders warned that the benefits of digital access must be matched with safeguards to protect young users.

“Technology is growing at a very fast rate, and we cannot sit and watch,” said Chege Ngugi, Africa Regional Director at ChildFund International.

He pointed to gaps in digital literacy, training and resources needed to equip children, parents and law enforcement agencies to respond to online threats.

“There are gaps in terms of digital literacy, training and the resources available to equip our young people, parents, communities, and law enforcement to protect children online,” he said.

The roundtable highlighted online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) as a growing concern, describing it as a major challenge within the digital space.

ChildFund noted that while digital access offers opportunities for learning, skills development and economic participation, it also introduces risks that must be addressed urgently.

“Embedding safety into access through regulation, education, and partnership is our collective duty,” said Isam Ghanim, President and CEO of ChildFund.

He stressed that stakeholders must act collectively to stay ahead of evolving digital threats.

“Digital access creates opportunity, but the risks evolve as fast as technology does. We know the risks. It is up to us to make sure we are ahead of them,” he said.

The meeting brought together experts, policy advocates and young people, who shared experiences and proposed solutions to strengthen online safety frameworks.

Participants emphasised the need for collaboration across sectors, calling for joint investment, shared responsibility and stronger policy frameworks to protect children online.

ChildFund has been at the forefront of efforts to combat online child exploitation since 2019, when the issue was identified as a critical global challenge affecting young people.

The organisation also leads the End Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children Coalition, which advocates for stronger legislation and provides a platform for survivors and affected families.

Stakeholders at the Nairobi forum underscored the importance of integrating safety into digital access, ensuring that children can benefit from technology without being exposed to harm.

They called for urgent action to strengthen digital literacy, improve law enforcement capacity and enhance collaboration among governments, civil society and the private sector.

As Africa’s digital landscape continues to expand, stakeholders warned that failure to act could leave millions of children exposed to online exploitation and abuse.