By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, June 24, GNA- Participants at a GIZ sponsored workshop on children’s rights in the digital space have called for strict enforcement of laws protecting children from online abuse.
They also advocated continuous engagement with students particularly, and all Ghanaian children on the dangers of the Internet, tactics of online predators and their dark world activities.
The sensitisation workshop dubbed, “Support to Human Rights, Gender Equality and Civil Society projects in Ghana,” was facilitated by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the National Common on Civic Education (NCCE)
The workshop also shared information on gender transformative approaches on issues of discrimination, maltreatment and injustice faced by men, women, children and other vulnerable groups.
It also looked at protecting children’s rights in the digital space.
Others were of the view that state actors and institutions must also up their game on protecting and providing care for the Ghanaian child.
Mr. Elias Mane, who took participants through Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse said the Ghanaian child needed to be educated on make informed choices while, they surf the internet.
He spoke about online grooming, sextortion and other abuses and the need for children to avoid associating or allowing strangers to come to their digital space.
Mr. Mane said the Cybersecurity Act, among other regulations were there to protect the space and encouraged the participants to familiarize themselves.
Madam Mary Nartey, from the CHRAJ headquarters said the project was to strengthen collaboration and coordination among key players within Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis to end abuse and discrimination on and offline.
Siw Dorte Diallo, Head of the project at the GIZ was grateful to the participants for showing up for the programme and becoming champions to drive the needed change in communities on the rights, safety and care of the child.
Madam Joy Anima Danquah, a facilitator from CHRAJ speaking on rights and family structure stressed the need for a significant shift from the patriarchal system adding,”we need both the man and woman to develop as a society.”
She therefore called on the participants to call for better policies and programmes rather than ones that deliberately exclude, restrict and or discriminate against the rise of women.
Nana Kofi Abuna, the Chief of Essipong also encouraged communities to offer support to affected children to seek proper care and legal support.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga /Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Reporter’s email: [email protected]