Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ChildFund debuts ‘Swipe Safe’ plans

ChildFund debuts ‘Swipe Safe’ plans

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Children playing with smartphones and tablets at home in Phnom Penh in 2019. Heng Chivoan

ChildFund debuts ‘Swipe Safe’ plans

The NGO ChildFund has announced its strategic plan for 2022-2025 as well as a brand-new online safety project “Swipe Safe” to protect children from online abuse of all kinds.

ChildFund said in its press release on November 2 that the ChildFund-initiated project, “Swipe Safe” will begin its implementation with the devotion of resources to curriculum development, app development and acquiring digital devices to train children and youth groups, parents groups and relevant authorities to ensure that children stay safe online during their e-learning or entertainment activities and are able to get help when online abuse occurs.

“ChildFund, an international NGO with a focus on children, will continue to give priority to education, child protection, social and emotional learning and emergency response, including Covid-19 recovery, over the next four years,” the press release read.

Prashant Verma, country director of ChildFund Cambodia, said today marked a historic moment for ChildFund and that over a million children and their families participated indirectly and 220,000 children participated directly in their development projects to date in the education and child protection sectors.

“We’ve strengthened ChildFund’s operations in Cambodia and hastened the organisation’s efforts to improve the lives of Cambodian children, especially the most vulnerable ones,” he added.

Moving ahead, he said that ChildFund will leverage technology to its fullest potential in order to improve project execution and reach out to marginalized children.

Sorn Sabon, deputy secretary-general of the General Secretariat of the National Council of Cambodia for Children (CNCC), said that online child sexual exploitation presented a global problem and is a growing cause of concern that requires the guardians of children, civil society organisations and the authorities to work to prevent it in order to protect children from online abuse.

Khiev Bory, secretary of state at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, said that Cambodia had moved forward with promoting the protection of children and the best interests of children.

“Spending time online brings risks and threats with unacceptable but inevitable dangers. Some risks and threats children are encountering are also found in other places,” she added.

According to the CNCC, it is estimated that 11 per cent of children aged 12-17 had encountered online sexual exploitation while using the internet.

MOST VIEWED

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • Hun Sen warns of regional tensions

    ASIA is becoming a dangerous geopolitical hotspot, with several countries announcing that they intend to send naval vessels towards Southeast Asia and on to the South China Sea, warned Prime Minister Hun Sen. “Heated geopolitical issues can easily escalate, namely to war. I am not

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans

  • Waterway job still pending for Kampot tourism port’s opening

    The search is still on for a contractor to expand and deepen the Kampot International Tourism Port’s waterway and deliver additional enhancements allowing safe access for larger vessels, nearly a year after the main construction work on the 4.25ha site was completed on June 30, 2022.