Windhoek
Minister of Justice Dr Albert Kawana has been asked to disclose government’s strategy to fight and protect Namibians, especially children, against cybercrimes, including online bullying, human trafficking and sexual exploitation, among others.
Kawana is expected to respond in the National Assembly to the query from United Democratic Front (UDF) leader and MP Apius Auchab, who reminded the minister that the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has called on Namibia to devise a comprehensive strategy that ensures the safety of children online.
During the commencement of the fourth session of the sixth Parliament this week Auchab asked the justice minister to explain whether Namibia is equipped to respond to the challenge of online crime and cyber-bullying.
“What plans does the minister have to address the gaps and weaknesses in the current legislative framework in order to protect Namibian children from online bullying and sexual exploitation?” the UDF parliamentarian wanted to know.
“Can the minister explain to the nation how cybercrime poses new and complex challenges for both legislative and prosecuting authorities?” he also asked.
Auchab further asked how the justice ministry would involve stakeholders to join government in the battle against cybercrime.
According to a recent study of Namibian children’s use of information and communication technology (ICT) and online safety risks, 68 percent of respondents reported having seen explicit sexual content they did not wish to see.
Another 31 percent said they had been sent sexually explicit images of people they did not know. Twenty-nine percent saw sexual content, including the abuse of children, while 63 percent reported seeing disturbing or violent images.
The survey involved 735 young people between the ages of 13 and 17. This information is contained in an exploratory study on knowledge, attitudes and practices of ICT use and online safety risks faced by children, conducted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Sport, as well as the Ministry of Youth.
Children’s increased access to the internet poses significant risks of exposure to cyber-bullying, emotional and sexual abuse, grooming and exploitation, the study found.