Parents urged to protect children from online harm

MWANZA: SHUJAA wa Maendeleo na Ustawi wa Jamii Tanzania (SMAUJATA) National Secretary for the Department of Persons with Disabilities, Ms Esther Sanga has said that closer parental supervision is essential to protecting children from harmful online content, abuse and negative influences, particularly as mobile phone use increases.

Speaking during the interview, Ms Sanga stressing that proper parental guidance was essential in preventing violence and safeguarding children’s welfare.

“SMAUJATA continue to educate communities on preventing and combating violence, urging parents, families and the wider community to take an active role in protecting children from abuse and harmful influences,” she said.

Ms Sanga cautioned that giving children mobile phones without a clear need or adequate supervision could expose them to inappropriate content, including violent films and pornography.

“Parents must be vigilant in how they raise their children and ensure they are protected from harmful content,” she said, questioning the practice of giving children phones without considering the potential risks.

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She urged the public to support SMAUJATA’s efforts by taking preventive measures and reporting incidents of violence to the relevant authorities.

Ms Sanga said collective responsibility was crucial to reducing violence and building families and communities founded on unity, cooperation and mutual support.

On the causes of GenderBased Violence (GBV), she said some cases stemmed from within families, where children were burdened with responsibilities that should be handled by their parents, including meeting household needs.

She warned that imposing such responsibilities on children could expose them to unnecessary pressure and compromise their welfare, urging parents to fulfil their obligations and provide appropriate care.

Ms Sanga also raised concern over parents who conceal children with disabilities at home and deny them access to education, depriving them of fundamental rights and essential services.

“When parents have children with disabilities and choose to hide them rather than send them to school, that, too, constitutes a form of violence,” she said.

She said registering children with disabilities was important in ensuring they accessed their rights and benefited from government support. However, some parents were failing to register their children, limiting their access to essential services and assistance.

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