Friday 16^th June, 2023- The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion through the National Child Development Agency marked the Day of the African Child, under the theme "The Rights of the Child in the digital environment”, as selected by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).

This important day was celebrated both at National and District level through different activities aiming at raising awareness on children’s rights in the digital era and measures to protect them from abuse while online or offline.

At national level, a reflection meeting with stakeholders from government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, private sector, media and children was organized to stimulate their commitments towards the realization of children’s rights in the digital environment.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Child Development Agency (NCD), Umutoni Gatsinzi Nadine emphasized the need of protecting children’s rights in the digital era.

"Because technology has become an essential part of our daily lives, there is no way we can deny our children the benefits that come with it. However, we must be proactive in ensuring our children's online safety" she pointed out.

According to Aimee Umugwaneza, a children's representative from Kicukiro District, all interventions aiming at protecting children from online and offline abuse should be strongly supported by educating and equipping them to protect themselves and their peers.

David Kanamugire, the CEO of Rwanda's National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA), made a call to stakeholders including parents, teachers, internet service providers, and media outlets saying that the protection and promotion children’s rights in the digital environment cannot be achieved if not made a shared responsibility among all stakeholders.

Stakeholders reiterate their commitment to support everything possible to protect children from online abuse

Referring to a number of initiatives the Government of Rwanda has undertaken to ensure children’s safety online including but not limited to Laws and Policies, supporting children to access to the internet in schools (ICT room/computer lab), and filtration of harmful content at schools, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Pr. Jeannette Bayisenge, highlighted the challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that children’s safety is guaranteed.

“Several challenges remain such as low level of awareness, missing skills for cyber protection, lack of control tools and data to protect our children.” She pointed  

On the occasion, a three-month campaign on child online protection was launched to address some of those challenges.

In addition to a reflection meeting, the celebration of the Day of the African Child was done through different activities such as dissemination of messages to raise public awareness about children's rights in the digital era and their protection through mass media and social media as well as a half-day workshop with media editors and YouTubers that was organize prior to the event, to discuss the newly developed guidelines on ethical reporting on children and  how media can contribute to the promotion and protection of children's rights in digital cyberspace.