Child sexual abuse cases on the rise on cyber space

• The National Child Protection Authority further urges any concerned parties to contact them on their 24 hour trilingual hotline at 1929   

Sexual abuse of children has increased to appalling heights, following technological advancements, according to report released by the ‘Save the Children’ said.   

‘Save the Children’, in its report published earlier, said, with more of the population obtaining access to the internet and social media platforms, children are seemingly being targeted much more easily by online groomers and child predators.   

According to a child sexual prevention guide by it, cyber platforms are being used as a hub to target children, with child predators using methods of grooming such as sending and asking children for explicit photographs and videos as well as engagement and exposure to inappropriate media.   

The report said parents and caretakers are encouraged to take preventative measures in order to ensure that their children do not appear vulnerable to potential predators and are not targeted.   

According to it, this can be done by ensuring that all social media accounts are kept private so as not to disclose any information to potential threats and monitor friend requests. “Parental regulations on devices are also advised,” the report says.   

‘Save the Children’ further emphasizes that such predators often target mentally or physically disabled children. Some signs of sexual abuse in children can be mood swings, sudden and extreme fear of certain people or places, unexplainable bruises, secrecy and reluctance in eating and bathing. In 2017, over 1100 cases of sexual harassment and rape were reported to The National Child Protection Authority, where statistics have only increased in 2022. Only 10% of cases are ever reported. 

 
The National Child Protection Authority further urges any concerned parties to contact them on their 24 hour trilingual hotline at 1929.