Students take class on online child sexual abuse

By Our Correspondent,Dharan, Dec. 13: During the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything, including education, shifted online, there was a concerning rise in online child sexual abuse and harassment. As these incidents peaked, an organisation named ‘Voice of Children’ launched awareness campaigns. Although the issue existed previously, it worsened significantly during the pandemic.

With the rise of internet use, online harassment has surged, underscoring the need to educate schoolchildren on digital safety. To address this, the Voice of Children programme has been organised in schools of Dharan, according to Leela Bhujel, the official of the Cyber Safety Project.

As the problem escalated, volunteers from Voice of Children have been actively working to address the issue. They have been organising similar initiatives in various schools across Sunsari, said Alina Rai, a fellow volunteer.

The initiative, which began at Gyanodaya School in Dharan, aims to reach all community schools in the area. Its primary purpose is to educate school children about the risks associated with such cases. "It is an important initiative," Rai added.

She further explained how the programme encouraged victims, who were initially hesitant to discuss the abuse with their families, to open up. The organisation has also collaborated with the police to rescue victims and take legal action against offenders. Additionally, counselling support is provided to the victims. "This is why the programme is so important in schools," Rai emphasised.

With such issues on the rise, children are profoundly impacted. It affects their studies, behaviour, physical health, and family relationships, and even leads to cases of children running away from home. "Due to the lack of effective laws to address these issues, the Voice of Children programme was initiated," said Deputy Director Raju Ghimire.

The organisation has assisted more than 250 victims of abuse and has contributed significantly to addressing the issue. In collaboration with the government, this programme is currently ongoing in Sunsari district of Koshi Province and Kathmandu in Bagmati Province, he informed.

Throughout the year, Voice of Children has also been providing training to Teacher-Parent Associations and Children's Rights Committees on online abuse, aiming to enhance their awareness and capabilities, added Bhujel.

The organisation also focuses on disadvantaged areas, where they assist street children by helping them secure jobs or reunite with their families. They handle legal matters, provide financial support for education, and address other issues affecting children. Additionally, the organisation remains committed to tracking child safety and conducting research to make their initiatives even more effective, informed Ghimire.

The reasons children end up on the streets are closely linked to their families' inability to provide adequate care, poor financial conditions, lack of access to quality education and necessities, peer influence, families not prioritising education, forcing children into labour, and issues like parental separation and remarriage. These factors have been highlighted by statistics, the organisation reported.

For the past 24 years, Voice of Children has been actively working to protect children, rescuing them from forced labour, addressing abuse, reuniting them with their families and uplifting individuals from disadvantaged areas, informed Deputy Director Ghimire.