Today is the Day of the African Child (DAC) – a special time to celebrate children and call attention to the obstacles still standing in their way.
Development Diaries reports that the 2023 DAC is being commemorated with the theme: ‘The Right of the Child in the Digital Environment’.
More than 30 percent of children in Africa experience the aftereffects of chronic malnutrition, including physical and mental impairments.
Children suffering from hunger
The continent is rich in natural resources but many children are suffering from hunger and malnutrition due to the inability of their parents to cater to their needs.
Many African children cannot go to school or complete their education because their parents cannot afford to pay school fees.
Other problems faced by children in the continent are crime and rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence, discrimination, and abuse of their rights.
Furthermore, violence and armed conflicts in different parts of the continent have led to the displacement of many children.
In western and northeastern Africa, girls are circumcised, which results in irreparable damage such as incontinence, infertility, or urinary tract infections.
Child labour
Data from PsyTalk reveals that approximately 20,000 children die every day because of poverty.
The issue of child labour in Africa is another glaring challenge as it is estimated that 41 percent of all children between the ages of five and 14 are involved in economic activity.
In sub-Saharan Africa, where over half of the children in the ten–14 age range are employed, the participation rates of children in the labour force are higher.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in 2022, reported that 98 million children in sub-Saharan Africa were out of school.
Children online
Data from the Global Development Commons (GDC) shows that one in three internet users worldwide is a child (a person under the age of 18) and that one in three children have access to the internet.
The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) has noted that as of May 2022, there were about 590 million users (43 percent internet penetration) in Africa.
It said the figures included children, who represent a third of all internet users in
the world, and are increasingly exposed to the virtual environment.
Growing concerns
This situation raises questions about how to protect children online and what steps governments should take to solve the major problems.
The African Children’s Charter stipulates that the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of the child also imply the fulfilment of duties by all relevant stakeholders.
Development Diaries calls on all critical stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, parents/guardians/caregivers, and relevant civil society organisations (CSOs), to ensure that all children have equal and effective access to the digital environment in ways that are meaningful for them.
We particularly call on African governments to take all measures necessary to overcome digital exclusion, especially by providing free and safe access for children in dedicated public locations and investing in policies and programmes that support all children’s affordable access to, and knowledgeable use of digital technologies.
Photo source: MaxPixel
