Stakeholders To Discuss Internet Rights For Women And Children In Ghana

Experts and stakeholders will convene in Accra on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, to discuss women’s rights and freedoms and children’s safety online.

The Stakeholders’ Forum, organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), is under the theme, “Internet Rights for Women and Children in Ghana.” It will bring together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, civil society and the media.

Even though the internet landscape in Ghana is relatively free, many Ghanaian women are unable to access the internet, speak freely and exercise other rights online due to a number of socio-cultural, political and financial factors. In the case of children, while the internet offers opportunities for research and studies and serves other social interests such as entertainment, it also poses threats and risks many young netizens are unaware of.

This requires an environment that fosters internet access and the exercise of rights online, while protecting all Ghanaians, especially children who are the most vulnerable, from online risks such as exposure to sexual and violent content, cyberbullying, online grooming for prostitution and terrorism, among other threats.

Participants at the Forum will deliberate on the findings of two policy briefs onGender Dimensions of Internet Rights in Ghana and Child Online Protection in Ghana developed with funding support from the UK-based Global Partners Digital.

The two documents, developed with the expertise of ABANTU for Development and J Initiative respectively, highlight the current context of women’s rights and freedoms and children’s safety online. They also make recommendations for safeguarding Ghana’s internet environment for women to exercise their rights, and for children to study and play safely using the internet.

The Forum will take place at the Sunlodge Hotel in Tesano, Accra, at 9am prompt.