As the world commemorates the World Day for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children, the Coalition on Sexual Violence Against Children in Uganda is raising urgent concern over the rising exposure of children to inappropriate, harmful, and unsafe media content.
Across Uganda, children are increasingly encountering disturbing material on television, radio, social media, and other online platforms. Violence, sexualized imagery, misleading portrayals of relationships, and harmful gender stereotypes are shaping children’s behaviour, worldviews, and vulnerability to exploitation.
Media remains a powerful tool for education, creativity, and empowerment, but when left unregulated or poorly curated, it can also become a pathway to sexual exploitation, abuse, emotional harm, and negative socialization.
Recent global and regional findings highlight the magnitude of the problem:
- Research by Internet Matters shows that 1 in 5 children aged 9–13 have been contacted by a stranger online, 15% have encountered mis/disinformation, and 13% have experienced hate speech.
- In Eastern and Southern Africa, 1 in 10 children have faced online sexual abuse.
- The International Association of Internet Hotlines (2023) reported a 25% increase in online sexual exploitation cases in Africa, with South Africa and Kenya recording a 30% rise in child sexual abuse material.
- In Uganda, the Disrupting Harm study by Safe Online found that 49% of children had accessed adult pornography online, with boys and older adolescents being disproportionately affected.
- A 2020 Uganda Communications Commission study revealed that 70% of children are not meaningfully engaged by their parents on their internet use, heightening unmanaged exposure.
These trends underscore a critical truth: children have a right to grow up safe, both offline and online. We must create media spaces that foster confidence, nurture dreams, protect dignity, and preserve childhood innocence.
As the world reflects on this important day—which serves to raise awareness, prevent abuse, and support survivors of sexual exploitation—the Coalition draws the nation's attention to the urgent need to address the unregulated media content shaping children's daily experiences across television, radio, digital platforms, and print media.
The Coalition calls on all stakeholders to take decisive action:
- Media Houses and Content Creators
- Adopt child-sensitive programming guidelines.
- Promote positive, age-appropriate, and educational content.
- Refrain from broadcasting material that normalizes sexualization, abuse, or violence against children.
- Government and Regulatory Bodies
- Strengthen enforcement of media, digital safety, and child protection policies.
- Invest in monitoring systems that detect, prevent, and penalize harmful content across traditional and digital platforms.
- Technology Companies and Internet Service Providers
- Prioritize online child safety in platform design.
- Improve content moderation, age verification tools, and accessible reporting mechanisms.
- Parents and Caregivers
- Actively engage children about what they watch, share, and experience online.
- Build trust so children feel safe to report uncomfortable or harmful encounters.
- Schools and Community Leaders
- Integrate digital literacy and safe media use into teaching and community programs.
- Equip children with skills to navigate media spaces responsibly.
- Children and Young People
- Speak up, share your experiences, and champion responsible and safe media use among peers.
Conclusion
As we commemorate the World Day for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children, the Coalition reminds all Ugandans that the protection of children—whether online or offline—is not a one-day effort, but a shared and continuous responsibility.
Together, we can ensure Uganda’s media landscape becomes safe, empowering, and fully respectful of every child’s right