Soweto: 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. This initiative aimed to empower the students to take control of their personal information in an increasingly digital world.
According to South African Government News Agency, the session was hosted by the Information Regulator in partnership with Naspers and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA). The event served as a platform to create continuous awareness about data protection, emphasizing the need for society to support Child Protection Week and ensure that vulnerable groups, such as children, do not suffer abuse.
National Child Protection Week is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about children’s rights, as outlined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005). This year’s commemoration, held from May 29 to June 5, focused on the theme “Working Together to End Violence Against Children.”
The Information Regulator concluded the week with an information-sharing session that involved partners like the Film and Publications Board, the Department of Basic Education, and various social media platforms. The session focused on online safety for children, protection from harmful content, and the right to privacy. It encouraged active participation from parents, guardians, educators, stakeholders, and school governing bodies in ensuring the data protection of children.
Media Monitoring Africa’s Phakamile Madonsela emphasized the need for inclusivity in such programs, particularly for children with disabilities. Madonsela committed to developing more initiatives to educate learners with hearing impairments on how to be safe online citizens and to provide support to schools.
The Information Regulator’s Chief Information Officer, Tando Luyaba, addressed the consequences of oversharing information online and urged learners to control the information they share to ensure their safety. The session was held under the theme “Protecting Personal Information of Children Online,” reinforcing the importance of data safety for children in the digital age.