Africa
5Rights’ work drives initiatives and legislation across the region to further enhance the rights of children in the digital environment across Africa.
Overview
With the African UnionChild Online Safety and Empowerment Policy, Africa is the first region to have adopted a comprehensive approach towards creating a safer digital environment for children. 5Rights engages with the African Union (AU), national regulators, and civil society organisations throughout the African continent to advance its implementation.
“Just as parents and elders guide the young, the digital world must be built to protect and nurture us, not exploit us.”
Amara, 15
Children’s experiences
By 2030, nearly one-third of the world’s children will reside in Africa. Currently, already an estimated 40% of young people aged 15 to 24 have internet access in Africa, yet facing multitude of interconnected challenges. Exploring generative AI, children in Kenya have noticed the reproduction of stereotypes in AI-generated images, far removed from their realities. This has raised concerns about algorithmic bias and racism.
Our work in Africa
Building on 5Rights’ work to develop the Rwanda Child Online Protection Policy, the African Union Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy sets out a blueprint to implement the necessary safeguards and reiterates businesses’ responsibilities to uphold children’s rights.
African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy HE Ms Lerato Mataboge said, “This strategy is our continental shield. It reflects our African realities, it is rooted in our values, and it is anchored in our aspirations”.
5Rights supports with regional policymakers regional and national bodies, and African civil society partners to translate the Child Online Safety and Empowerment policy into enforceable protections that reflect the realities and priorities of children across the continent.
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5Rights and partners organise first Children’s Global AI Summit on Africa
Children from across the continent assembled for the Children’s Global AI Summit in Kigali, Rwanda convened by 5Rights and partners.
Africa leads as first region to adopt child online safety policy
Africa makes history with the world’s first comprehensive policy framework for the implementation of children’s rights in the digital environment. Learn more about this groundbreaking development.
African Union pioneers child safety in digital policy
The African Union approves a pioneering policy on child online safety, leveraging 5Rights’ Toolkit and setting a global standard for digital rights and child empowerment.
5Rights speaks to Towela Nyirenda Jere – one of Malawi’s first female engineers
Towela Nyirenda Jere, one of Malawi’s first female engineers and a 5Rights Trustee, highlights the importance of safeguarding children’s digital rights in Africa, focusing on access, security, and cultural context.