To mark the closing of Child Protection Week, pupils at the Sizwile School for Deaf Children in Dobsonville, Soweto, were educated on digital dangers and data protection.
During the session, hosted by the Information Regulator (Regulator) in partnership with Naspers and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), the pupils were empowered to take control of their personal information.
“As part of creating continuous awareness about data protection, this commemorative week is a call to all South Africans to support Child Protection Week by ensuring that the most vulnerable in society do not suffer abuse,” the Regulator said on Thursday.
National Child Protection Week is commemorated annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and Children's Act (Act No. 38 of 2005).
This year’s commemoration started on 29 May and ended on 5 June under the theme: "Working Together to End Violence Against Children".
“The Regulator closed of the week with an information sharing session with partners, such as the Film and Publications Board, the Department of Basic Education and social media platforms.
“Various speakers shared information and created awareness on children online safety, protection from harmful content, their right to privacy, and encouraged parents and guardians, learners, stakeholders, educators and parent representatives through the school governing bodies to play an active role in ensuring data protection of children,” the Regulator said.
The session was held under theme: “Protecting personal information of children online”.
Media Monitoring Africa’s Phakamile Madonsela highlighted the importance of being inclusive of all children when running such programmes.
“We need to do more to include all children living with disabilities and teach them how to be safe online citizens. We are committed to do more programmes to focus on learners with hearing impairments and support the schools,” she said.
The Regulator’s Chief Information Officer, Tando Luyaba, shared the consequences of over sharing information online with the audience and urged learners to be in control of the information they share online, so to ensure their safety. - SAnews.gov.za
