Enhancing the rights of the African child in the digital realm necessitates accessible and affordable internet connectivity as well as information and communication technology devices.

However, the Executive Director in the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, says this advancement also exposes children to the potential violation of their rights, particularly the risk of online sexual exploitation.

According to Sanet Steenkamp, this is an aspect that Namibia should be aware of, as it involves online child sexual exploitation and abuse, which encompasses the exploitation of children in pornographic activities and the online grooming that exposes them to sexual acts.

Steenkamp emphasises the crucial role of government stakeholders, civil societies, parents, and guardians in shouldering the responsibility of safeguarding children from online harm and abuse.

"The rights of a child can either be improved and protected, or the opposite can happen: the child's rights can be transgressed. I think it's just important that we have a message for our children to say, 'Be careful what you share in terms of your personal information on the internet and who you make friends with'. Children should also remember that the digital footprint cannot be deleted, so they must be extra cautious with what they share on the internet."