Kenya’s mobile operators, regulator and government recently came together to support a major GSMA initiative aimed at ensuring a safe online environment for children and young citizens in Kenya. The Charter is backed by the Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya and the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology.
We Care was launched in Latin America in 2014 and is now running 14 campaigns across the region in collaboration with local operators. These campaigns support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, allowing the mobile industry to drive impact at a local level. The launch of the Child Online Protection industry charter in Kenya is the first ever We Care initiative deployed in Africa.
Airtel Kenya, Jamil Telecommunications, Safaricom and Telkom Kenya signed the new Child Online Protection (COP) Charter, marking the first stage in the launch of the GSMA’s We Care campaign in Africa.
“By signing up to the COP Charter, mobile operators in Kenya are demonstrating their commitment to working together to provide a safer and more reliable online experience for the country’s young citizens,” said Akinwale Goodluck, GSMA Head of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Under the agreement, Kenya’s mobile industry will work together with the country’s regulator to foster a culture of safe and responsible use of the internet and other ICTs via educational and awareness programmes, integrating children’s rights considerations into corporate policies and management processes, and supporting government, law enforcement agencies, civil society and other stakeholders to tackle online abuse of children.