GRÜNAU – Some residents of the Grünau settlement in the //Kharas region joined Geduld Primary School learners and teachers on Thursday to commemorate the Day of the Namibian Child. This year, the day is being commemorated under the theme ‘The rights of the child in a digital environment’.
In a speech read on her behalf, Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Doreen Sioka said “Meaningful access to digital technologies can empower children to realise their civil, political, cultural, economic and social rights, as it provides them with a platform to have their voices heard and participate at various levels”.
The minister stated that children have the right to access information, and engage in the digital world. However, it is the responsibility of adults to ensure that children have equal and safe access to the wealth of knowledge and resources available online. She noted that efforts must be made to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that no child is left behind due to economic, geographical or social barriers.
Sioka emphasised that to support these efforts, it is crucial to establish a legal framework to regulate online activities in the country. She thus called on the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to expedite the passing of the cybercrime Bill, stating that “this legislation will provide regulation and protection for children in the digital world, preventing and punishing online child exploitation, including grooming and child pornography”.
She stressed that protecting the rights of children in the digital environment is not solely the responsibility of the government and industry leaders, but requires a collective effort from parents, educators, the private sector, civil society organisations and the broader community. “We need to promote digital literacy and education for children, parents and educators alike. Schools should integrate digital literacy into their curriculum, teaching children about online safety, privacy and critical thinking,” Sioka continued.
Marizol Pieters, a learner at Geduld Primary School, said, “I am proud to be a Namibian child because as a Namibian child, I am able to go to school and get free education. We children also have rights that protect us, and in our country, we are able to express ourselves fully without being harmed, as opposed to other countries.”
Omaheke celebrations
The Day of the Namibian Child was celebrated at Leonardville in the Aminuis Constituency of the Omaheke region on the same day.
The day is celebrated every year on 28 September since the year 2000, and is used to honour the worth of every Namibian child as well as assess the progress in meeting the commitments of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare.
The region’s education director Constance Wantenaar said in a speech read on her behalf that parents and all stakeholders should monitor what children are doing online.
“Be aware of what children are doing online, and avoid posting images of children in school uniforms, badges and numbers.
Encourage the child to have hobbies outside the internet, and educate yourself on safety features of devices and platforms,” she said.
“Children are a vulnerable group in society, and they too are present online. Their rights should accordingly be protected online to an even greater extent because of the inherent risk which comes with the digital world,” Wantenaar stressed.
She further emphasised that although the digital environment has benefits as learners can now be educated through different online platforms, the internet may also expose children to many risks.
“Explore and research how a device works before making use of it. Turn off your location if not needed, and do not share personal information such as date of birth, age and nationality. Do not post or share content that will cause harm to the next person,” she warned.
– Nampa