Civil society organizations under the Coalition to End Sexual Violence, coordinated by the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN), are calling for a national dialogue on preventing and ending online violence against children.
The call follows recent security operations in Kampala that led to the arrest of 27 girls and young women, aged between 17 and 26, over alleged online prostitution and other forms of digital sexual exploitation.
The Coalition believes these incidents should serve as a wake-up call and prompt collective national action to address the growing problem of online violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse of children. The organizations are also calling for urgent, child-centered responses that prioritize prevention, protection, rehabilitation, and psychosocial support for victims.
“Sexual violence against children can have lifelong impacts, including trauma, depression, anxiety, social stigma, and school dropout. Online sexual exploitation can further increase children’s vulnerability to trafficking and repeated abuse. While civil society, the media, parents and caregivers, religious leaders, and teachers all have an important role to play in educating children about online risks and sexual exploitation, the responsibility for protection cannot rest on children alone,” said Damon Wamara, Executive Director of the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network.
The organizations noted that strengthening child protection online is increasingly important as more children and young people gain access to the internet and digital platforms.
“The digital transformation of our society is irreversible, but the exploitation of children online is not. Protecting children in the digital age requires immediate and collective action. We call upon government, technology companies, civil society, communities, parents, and the media to work together to strengthen prevention efforts and build a robust child protection system that safeguards every child online and offline. The time to act is now, before more children are exposed to harm that could have been prevented,” said Hadijah Mwanje, Executive Director of High Sound for Children.
Speaking at the same press conference, Tabitha Suubi from Raising Voices emphasized the need to strengthen the legal and policy framework for protecting children online and ensuring that child safety remains a priority in Uganda’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.