Accra, Ghana – January 15, 2025 – Recent celebrity-driven events involving children have raised serious concerns about the potential violations of children’s rights. While these events may seem harmless, the risks to children's privacy, safety, and well-being are significant. Child Online Africa urges for immediate action to ensure the protection of Ghanaian children participating in such events, emphasizing the importance of stringent safeguards and regulations.

Concerns About Children's Rights

Several key issues pose significant risks to children at these events:

Inadequate Data Protection: Children’s personal information is often collected and may be misused without proper parental consent. This is a breach of the Children’s Act, the Data Protection Act, the Cybersecurity Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), particularly concerning the right to privacy and protection from exploitation.

Exposing Children to Online Dangers: Publicizing children's participation on social media platforms exposes them to online predators, cyberbullying, and mental health risks. Overexposure on social media is an increasingly dangerous issue, as digital platforms often fail to protect young users.

Physical Safety Risks: Large gatherings of children, especially in unregulated events, may lack sufficient security measures, increasing the chances of physical harm or even abduction. Safety protocols are often insufficient, leaving children vulnerable to exploitation or harm.

Recommendations for Stronger Regulation

To address these issues, Child Online Africa advocates for the following measures:

Strict Enforcement of Data Protection Laws: Ensure that event organizers comply with data protection laws, requiring parental consent for ALL data collection.

Mandating Child Safeguarding Protocols: Event organizers should be required to implement child safety measures, including background checks for staff and robust security protocols at ALL events involving children.

Regulating Celebrity-Driven Events: Celebrity-organized child-focused events should be regulated to prevent potential exploitation and overexposure, ensuring children’s safety and privacy are prioritized.

Advocacy for Children’s Rights

Child Online Africa calls for a renewed focus on the following areas:

Privacy Rights: Advocate for stronger protections against data misuse, ensuring children's personal information is never shared or exploited without consent.

Mental Health Safeguards: Promote measures that limit children’s exposure to harmful content or cyberbullying, which can severely impact their mental health.

Accountability for Celebrities: Push for accountability among celebrities and organizers of child-focused events to ensure that children’s best interests are prioritized at all times.

Advice for Parents

Parents have a critical role to play in safeguarding their children’s rights:

Supervise Participation: Always accompany children to events and ensure there are safeguards and your child understands the event’s safety protocols.

Educate About Privacy: Teach children the importance of not sharing personal information, both online and at events.

Prepare Emergency Plans: Establish meeting points and educate children on identifying safe adults in case of separation.

Advice for Children

Children must be equipped with the knowledge to protect themselves:

Stay Close to Trusted Adults: Always stay with a trusted adult during events.

Don’t Share Personal Information: Avoid sharing any personal details with strangers or online platforms.

Speak Up if You Feel Unsafe: Children should feel empowered to speak out if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Times Have Changed – Personal Data is the Gold of Our Time

In today’s digital world, personal data has become the most valuable asset, often referred to as "the gold of our time." With every image, name, and piece of personal information shared at an event, children are exposed to potential data misuse, identity theft, and exploitation. It is more important than ever to ensure that children’s rights to privacy, safety, and dignity are upheld at all times.

Conclusion

Protecting children is a collective responsibility that involves event organizers, parents, and society as a whole. Child Online Africa urges all stakeholders to take immediate action to ensure that children’s rights are never compromised at celebrity-driven events. By putting in place stronger safeguards and regulations, we can ensure a safer future for our children.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

Child Online Africa       Email: info@childonlineafrica.org   

About Child Online Africa

Child Online Africa is an organization dedicated to protecting children's rights in the digital age. We work to ensure that children are safe online, advocating for policies that prioritize their privacy, security, and well-being. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration with governments and organizations, we strive to create a safer digital environment for all children across Africa.