BY NONCEDO SHABANGU (Intern)
MBABANE – Eswatini has been recognised among the African countries performing above average in efforts to protect children in the digital space. The recognition came during a virtual presentation by Serge Valery Zongo, Programme Officer at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), who commended the country’s growing commitment to cybersecurity and child online protection.
Zongo highlighted that Eswatini is outperforming many other African nations, noting that it is one of only 17 countries on the continent with an active child online protection strategy. This progress positions Eswatini as a key player in advancing safe internet access for children. He praised the country’s momentum, calling it “good news” and expressed pride in its progress.
ITU, the UN’s specialised agency for information and communication technologies, has prioritised cybersecurity since 2002. In 2008, it intensified its focus on protecting children online through its global Child Online Protection (COP) initiative, working with organisations such as UNICEF, UNESCO and Save the Children. Eswatini’s progress aligns with ITU’s five strategic pillars, legal measures, technical safeguards, organisational structures, capacity building, and international cooperation.
During his presentation, Zongo emphasised the need to bridge the growing digital knowledge gap between children and adults. Today’s children are digital natives, while parents and teachers are often digital immigrants who struggle to support young users in navigating online threats. Zongo urged Eswatini to continue building capacity among educators, parents and professionals.
He also introduced a range of free digital tools and training materials available on ITU platforms to support national efforts. These include child-friendly safety guides, educator resources and policy development templates. One such tool is “Stango,” a global training toolkit developed in Colombia, which Zongo encouraged Eswatini to translate and adapt into local languages for maximum impact.
Zongo also addressed the need for trust building between children and authorities. He cited research showing that children often fear their concerns won’t be taken seriously when reporting online harm. He encouraged Eswatini to continue improving response systems and awareness campaigns.
With its growing efforts, Eswatini is steadily positioning itself as a continental leader in protecting children online. Zongo concluded by urging the country to keep localising global tools and strengthening multi-stakeholder cooperation for greater impact.
