New research and policy briefs from the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) and ChildFund International has uncovered a shocking rise in online child sexual exploitation and abuse across the African continent.

This includes the finding that in some African countries, around one-fifth of children under 17 have received unsolicited online requests to talk about sex or sexual acts. In South Africa alone, a third of those went on to have a face-to-face meeting.

“The pervasive attitude that online crimes are not real crimes have created an atmosphere of virtual lawlessness,” said ACPF’s Executive Director Dr Joan Nyanyuki. “Africa is witnessing a problem that is sharply on the rise, and the evidence shows that Africa may be the new frontier for online sexual predators.”

Even more alarming is the extremely young age of many victims of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA). Although there are no studies showing the scale of online child sexual exploitation and abuse of children across the whole of Africa, one survey showed more than 60% of unidentified victims were young children, including infants and toddlers, and 65% were girls.

“Inadequate laws and services, including fledgling technology-based surveillance systems and severely underdeveloped digital forensics capacity have created an opportunity and a fertile ground for potential sex criminals,” said Chege Ngugi, Africa Regional Director at ChildFund. “The key question for African countries is whether or not they are adequately prepared to provide greater protection and safeguarding for children online.”

OCSEA report findings

In their recently published reports, ChildFund and the ACPF note that :

• Up to one-third of children aged 12-17 in Ethiopia and Mozambique shared personal information with strangers online.
• 19% of children aged 9-17 in South Africa and 21% aged 15-17 in Uganda received unwanted online requests to talk about sex or sexual acts.
• Up to 13% of 12-17 year olds in Kenya and Mozambique were threatened or blackmailed to engage in sexual activities online.
• On average, 7% of children shared sexualised images of themselves online.
• One-third of 9-17 year olds in South Africa and over 25% of 12-17 year olds in Mozambique went on to a face-to-face meeting after an online contact.

“The impact of sexual abuse and exploitation of children – whether physical or online – is enormous,” said Dr Nyanyuki. “Children are being severely damaged physically, psychologically and socially. Victims of online child sexual exploitation and abuse often report experiencing feelings of anxiety, guilt and shame, loss of self-esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance and alcohol abuse and depression.”

Perpetator types

The policy briefings also detail the multiple types of OCSEA perpetrator and the channels they use for their criminal activities. They identify five main types of criminals:

• Traders: who collect and share child pornography, and in doing so fuel the market for yet more abuse.
• Networkers: who set up and engage in social networks specifically for those with a sexual interest in children.
• Groomers: engaging in inappropriate sexual communication with children.
• Travellers: who locate children to abuse.
• Traffickers: involved in recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring or receiving children across international boundaries.

“The factors that drive OCSEA in Africa are very similar to those in other parts of the world,” added Mr Ngugi. “But Africa is the continent with the fastest growing number of internet users – a generally lawless space which encourages criminals to commit these crimes without fear of detection and prosecution.”

Recommendations

The two organisations identify multiple criminal pathways to OSEAC in Africa, including the production, distribution and possession of child pornography; online grooming of children; sexting; the sexual extortion of children (‘sextortion’); revenge pornography; commercial sexual exploitation; online child prostitution; and the live streaming of sexual abuse.

ACPF and ChildFund also agree that current legislation and policy is woefully inadequate. They note that as of 2021, 30 African countries had no laws or policies on cyber security – not even as a draft – and make a number of recommendations aimed at the African Union (including the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child); Regional Economic Communities; national governments; and civil society organisations:

• Raise awareness among policy makers, practitioners, children, families and the public.
• Adopt new laws and policies, and strengthen existing ones.
• Implement and enforce those laws and policies.
• Strengthen cross-sectoral, cross regional and cross-country collaboration.
• Build the capacities of professionals such as police officers, prosecutors, judges and magistrates, lawyers, courtroom staff and social workers.
• Harness tech innovations and solutions to boost children’s online security and deter perpetrators.
• Invest in new research, data and evidence gathering.

“Across Africa, different policy measures have been designed and implemented to strengthen existing child protection systems and better protect children online,” noted Mr Ngugi. “However, progress is still hampered by limited evidence and understanding of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, lack of effective regulations and limited technological capabilities.”