By Augustine Octavius,augustineoctavius@gmail.com
A four-day camp organized by the Rights Holders Networks in collaboration with the Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia has ended at the SDA Konola Academy in Weala, Margibi County, with the adoption of a ten-count recommendations to curb the abuse of children in the information, communication and communication sector.
The camp, held under the theme: “Stop Cyber Bullying ; Ensure the Protection of Children through the use of ITC,” was funded by the Fund for Global Human Rights and Firestone Liberia
The youths, over 100 from across the country, resolved among other things resolved that non-state actors including private institutions, religious , student groups, and civil society organizations begin rigorous capacity development training and initiatives for local community dwellers, school going kids, parents, non-governmental employees and the citizens.
According to the youths, nongovernmental organizations should advance ethical standards and practices amongst their employees who are involved with sharing online contents.
The recommendation encouraged non-state actors including child rights advocacy groupings, students , youth groups and other civil society organizations be requested to engage government to create national standardized laws that promotes child online safety and ensure these laws are taught in the various educational institutions and social welfare groups.
The youths want child protection institutions through their advocacy strategy implementation develop or create a child online portal as a means to report online abuse.
The young people demanded that the government engage key private entities and corporations to establish mandates that enforce the inclusion of cyber bullying or fight against cyber bullying in cooperate social responsibility initiatives.
The youths recommended that private sector actors shall be able to engage with advocacy organizations to organize anti-cyber bullying activities in schools, work places, communities, and homes to ensure the reduction of cyber bullying.
The resolution also requested the government should commit to engaging actors in the private sector institution including internet and telecommunication companies to establish and implement child protection framework against cyber bullying within their scope of operations.
According to the youths, the government shall effectively monitor and table a report on the implementation of cyber bullying frameworks and campaigns by public sector actors nationally.
The resolution stressed the need for the drafted cyber crime law be passed so as to eradicate cyber bullying in the Liberian cyber space and there is need for a cyber crime court to be established to handle and prosecute cyber cases in Liberia.
The young people proposed that Ministry of Justice shall ensure that any person who intentionally uses any computer or network system in or for:
The young people resolved that the Right Holders Network, Kids Development Initiative and other youth groups engage in vigorous awareness and capacity building on cyber bullying in schools, communities and in the entire country.
Speaking at the program marking the end of the camping, , the Executive Director of the Right Holders Network , Ballah Saywala , thanked the Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia , the Fund for Global Human Rights and Firestone Liberia for the financial and technical support rendered to the camp
Mr. Saywala commended the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection for endorsing the annual national policy advocacy and engagement platform for children and adolescents to meet, share experiences and best practices, motivate and support each other.
He admonished the delegates to be focused, objective and participatory bearing in mind that their selection from within their counties, organizations and communities wasn’t a mistake but an opportunity to represent the interest of underprivileged children within their surroundings.