C-Sema’s multi-faceted approach to addressing online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Tanzania

The internet can be a powerful tool offering a platform for connection, exploration and creativity, yet it also harbours significant risks, particularly regarding child sexual exploitation and abuse online. In Tanzania, a significant proportion of children aged 12-17 use the internet, exposing them to potential online dangers. This case study highlights the comprehensive and multi-faceted approach adopted by C-Sema, a child rights institution, to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse in Tanzania.

Context and statistics

In Tanzania, approximately 67% of children aged 12-17 are internet users. Alarmingly, in just one year, an estimated 200,000 children in this age group experienced child sexual exploitation and abuse online according to the Disrupting Harm 2022 report. Additionally, the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported receiving 20,625 CyberTips related to Tanzania between 2017 and 2019, predominantly from Facebook and concerning suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

C-Sema’s multi-faceted approach

C-Sema has developed a robust, multi-faceted strategy to address online child sexual abuse, focusing on prevention, intervention and awareness.

1. National Child Helpline (116)

C-Sema operates the National Child Helpline (116) in collaboration with the government to provide a direct reporting channel for issues affecting children’s wellbeing including online exploitation and abuse. Through extensive outreach across Tanzania, the helpline encourages children and community members to report instances of child sexual exploitation and abuse online. This immediate reporting system enables timely intervention and support for victims and survivors.

2. Removal of child sexual exploitation and abuse images online

In collaboration with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), C-Sema tackles the distribution of harmful images. The partnership provides a dedicated online portal where identified images are swiftly removed. This effort is crucial in preventing further victimisation and protecting children from exploitation.

3. Awareness campaigns

C-Sema’s awareness campaigns aim to educate children, parents, and the community about online safety. In October 2019, C-Sema partnered with #ElimikaWikiendi to raise awareness on various aspects of child sexual exploitation and abuse online. The campaign included daily posts on social media, emphasising the roles of parents, caregivers and internet service providers in safeguarding children. This initiative reached over 2.8 million people and generated 28.9 million impressions. In November 2019, C-Sema, in collaboration with Child Helpline International, hosted the Regional Consultation of Child Helplines in Africa and MENA regions. The event focused on preventing and responding to child sexual exploitation and abuse online, further engaging the public and reinforcing the need for a collective response.

4. School and community outreach

In 2020, with support from UNICEF, C-Sema focused on educating secondary school students and the wider community about safe internet practices. Over 6,000 children across 11 schools were reached through this initiative. The outreach revealed high awareness among students about various online platforms but highlighted a knowledge gap among teachers regarding newer platforms. This discrepancy underscores the need for increased awareness among educators and parents to better support children’s online safety.

5. Disrupting Harm Initiative

From 2019 to 2022, C-Sema was a key participant in the Disrupting Harm project, a research initiative providing insights into online child sexual exploitation across 13 countries. This project delivered crucial findings and recommendations to improve prevention and response systems for OCSEA, contributing valuable knowledge to enhance national and international strategies.

Currently, in advancing the disrupting harm advocacy efforts, C-Sema has designed an activity to implement one of the recommendations from the disrupting harm survey in phase four of the KUWAZA project which focuses on sexual violence against children specifically how to prevent and respond to them. To raise awareness of child sexual exploitation and abuse online, C-Sema developed a topic for the KUWAZA sexual violence against children prevention toolkit for training children aged 7 – 14, as well as parents, teachers, local government authority and religious leaders.

Impact

• Enhanced reporting and response: The National Child Helpline (116) and online image removal efforts have improved the response to child sexual exploitation and abuse online incidents, helping protect victims and prevent further abuse.
• Increased awareness: Awareness campaigns, trainings and school outreach programs have not only elevated public understanding of online safety issues but also that of individual children although ongoing efforts are needed to educate all stakeholders, including children, teachers and parents.
• Collaborative efforts: Partnerships with organizations like IWF and the Tanzania Telecommunication Regulatory Authority as well as participation in international research projects have strengthened C-Sema’s capacity to address child sexual exploitation and abuse online comprehensively.

Lessons learned include:

• Need for continuous education: There is a persistent need for up-to-date training and education for both children and adults about emerging online threats.
• Importance of multi-stakeholder engagement: Effective prevention and response require coordinated efforts across various sectors, including government, civil society and private organisations.

Conclusion

C-Sema’s approach to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse online in Tanzania illustrates the importance of a multi-faceted strategy in addressing complex issues of online child protection. By integrating reporting mechanisms, image removal, awareness campaigns, empowering children’s self-efficacy to understand and report OCSEA and collaborative research, C-Sema has made strides in safeguarding children from online exploitation and abuse.