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Online abuse alert
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 26th July 2008
A PROJECT to protect children and teenagers from abuse via the Internet and mobile phones has been launched by a local children’s centre.
The Be Free Centre Anti Child Abuse and Neglect programme decided to take action following a four-year study into online child abuse.
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Online abuse alert
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 26th July 2008
A PROJECT to protect children and teenagers from abuse via the Internet and mobile phones has been launched by a local children’s centre.
The Be Free Centre Anti Child Abuse and Neglect programme decided to take action following a four-year study into online child abuse.
Be Free Centre manager Rana Al Sairafi said after gathering data from various sources, they had realised the need to act quickly because more and more children at younger ages were having access to mobile phones and the Internet.
She said it was imperative that children were aware of abuse online and how to stay safe because abusers were increasingly using highly creative ways to victimise them.
The centre had come across reports of children who had become victims of abuse through websites and mobile phone technologies such as Bluetooth.
“With globalisation many things are evolving, not only through the Internet but with mobile phones and Bluetooth technology there are many channels,” Ms Al Sairafi told the GDN.
“More and more children are having mobile phones. The Internet is in every house.
“These technologies are giving us a luxurious life on one side, but on the other it is scary.
“One child was talking to me and said that sometimes when his on the Internet, he knows some websites that he should not go to, but he knows it is just one click away – this is the battle he is going through.”
Ms Al Sairafi said many parents were unaware of the dangers of online abuse. They also underestimated how knowledgeable their children were about sex-related issues.
“We spoke to parents who said their children knew nothing about the meaning of rape,” she said.
“But we found that children can know more than we believe they know. They visit websites that are not appropriate for their age.
“When children see these websites, it affects the way their mind grows, they can’t digest them fully, it affects how they work with their peers.”
She said children were vulnerable to abuse through chat rooms. Many laptops now came with a webcam installed and if a child had the opportunity, they would use it.
“The stranger may start by saying take off your T-shirt but as time goes on the demand can grow,” she said.
“The users have all the patience and can wait until they get somewhere.”
Ms Al Sairafi said the centre was already conducting small workshops for parents and children about online protection, but would soon be rolling out a full protection plan.
She said the Child and Teen Online Protection Project would work closely with local, regional and international organisations and specialists.
It could include raising awareness in schools, universities and societies, as well as teaching parents how to control and censor the Internet.
The main goals for the project are to:
Provide children and teens with awareness and practical tools to stay safe online.
Raise parents’ awareness and provide them with tools to help in protecting their children.
Promote creative protection mechanisms with online service providers.
Build an international network for protecting children and teens online.
Activate the role of children and teens to help protect their peers .
Work with parliaments and other legislation organisations to enhance child and teen protection strategies.
To sponsor the project or for more information email Ms Al Sairafi at: contact@befreecentre.org or call on 17242415.
becky@gdn.com.bh
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© Gulf Daily News
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/story.asp?Article=224048&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31128
