Children’s rights defenders raise alarm on online sexual violence

18 November 2025, 4:33 pm

Byamukama Alozious

Organizations for children’s rights have raised alarm over sexual violence. Timothy Opobo, the Executive Director of Africhild, said violence online has affected 302 million children globally and at least 300 have accessed harmful information online. He noted that the legal framework exists, such as the Computer Misuse Act, but it is not widely known. “We give phones to children but many parents themselves don’t know how to use them. There is a need for an online safety policy,” he said.

Danman Wamara, Executive Director of the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network, urged stronger protection of children from harmful media content. He said the coalition is calling for safer media spaces, digital literacy and strengthening of policies to Prevent sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

High Sound for Children representative Hadija Mwanje stressed the need for child‑friendly content. She said everyone is becoming informers of unregulated material and challenged today’s media, especially mainstream outlets, as contributors to the problem. She called on the Uganda Communications Commission to intervene.

The Remnant Generation representative Nakiryo Fiona explained that they are tracing and helping victims of sexual violence to rehabilitate them and restore hope. She said many of those affected are between 13 and 14 years old, lured with promises of jobs only to end up in exploitative situations.

During the same press conference in Ntinda, Hope Wambi, Coordinator of the Department of Violence Against Children Prevention at Raising Voices, said many victims face mental health challenges. She called for open communication about what children watch and consume, stressing the need for collective and multisectoral action.

The coalition warned that children across Uganda are increasingly exposed to disturbing material on television, radio, social media, and online platforms. Sexualized imagery, violence, and harmful stereotypes are shaping children’s behavior and making them vulnerable to exploitation. While media can be a powerful tool for education and empowerment, leaders cautioned that without regulation it risks becoming a pathway to abuse and emotional harm.

Global and regional findings underline the scale of the crisis. Research shows that one in five children aged 9–13 have been contacted by strangers online, while in Eastern and Southern Africa, one in ten children have faced online sexual abuse. The International Association of Internet Hotlines reported a 25 percent rise in online sexual exploitation cases in Africa, with South Africa and Kenya recording a 30 percent increase in child sexual abuse material. In Uganda, the Disrupting Harm study found that 49 percent of children had accessed adult pornography online, with boys and older adolescents most affected. Uganda Communications Commission study in 2020 revealed that 70 percent of children are not meaningfully engaged by their parents on internet use, leaving them exposed.