Online sexual exploitation, abuse of children on the rise – UNICEF

Disturbing statistics have revealed how more children in Ghana are exposed to the Internet, leading to Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

2017 research by UNICEF on child online activities in Ghana reveals that two out of ten children between the ages of nine and seventeen have received sexual messages in words, pictures, or videos through social network sites.

There are, however, concerns among experts that the trend is worsening with more children continuing to be targeted and exploited online.

The UNICEF study also revealed that two out of ten children have met someone face to face that they became familiar with on the internet.

Five out of ten children, according to the study, have seen sexual images online, while four out of ten children do not feel safe on the internet.

Five out of ten children have also had upsetting experiences while online.

The E-Crime Bureau has warned that the vulnerability of children, especially on the internet, is alarming as young people are being recruited to indulge in the creation of negative content online.

The Bureau, while calling for enhanced education to reduce such development, is also urging parents and guardians to take a keen interest in activities their children engage in on the internet.

Given this, UNICEF has spearheaded the development of a training manual for police officers on Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

Facilitators at the various police training schools across the country were taken through the manual in Kumasi, on November 15, to help them also train recruits.

UNICEF believes the involvement of police officers coupled with continuous education will help curb the trend and protect children.

Eric Kwaku Mensah, Lead for Financial Crimes and Anti-Money Laundering at the E-Crime Bureau and Project Lead for Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, emphasised the need to curb the exploitation of children on the internet.

“It’s so important that the police are equipped to be able to manage and also proactively deal with issues with regards to Online Child Sexual Exploitation and abuse.

“Most of the physical crimes now have metamorphosed into the internet domain. And one of the categories of people who have fallen prey is children. The dangers of the internet space have become so dire. The trend has been going higher and there’s a need to curb that.”

 

Source: Citi News