05 March 2024

Tanzania has established a national advisory council and launched a Child Online Protection (COP) campaign to promote awareness about the forms of criminality that children face online.

The campaign will focus on teaching children, parents, and teachers about their roles in protecting children online.

The COP will run for one year in electronic, print, outdoor, and online media to raise awareness and review child-related laws and regulations.

“Parents or guardians should limit the amount of time spent on electronic devices, especially television, to avoid the epidemic of addiction and give time to the child to do homework and study. Make sure the child uses electronic devices under close supervision so as not to get involved in networks that are danger to the safety of the child,” said Dorothy Gwajima, minister of community development, women, and special groups.

The minister stated that research conducted by the government in partnership with UNICEF in 2022 for Tanzanian children aged 12-17 years revealed that 67% of youngsters use the internet, and 4% of those children have been subjected to various forms of violence online.