UNICEF Senegal, in collaboration with government services, is committed to supporting and strengthening the national child protection system to better prevent and respond to online child sexual exploitation and abuse. This will be achieved through consolidated capacities and improved intersectoral collaboration, the delivery of quality services, and the engagement of children, families, and communities. Within this framework, a baseline study was conducted on the situation of online child protection in Senegal. The meeting to share and validate the results of this study was held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in Dakar. It was organized by the Child Protection Support Unit (CAPE) of the Ministry of Family, Social Action, and Solidarity, in partnership with UNICEF, and chaired by Mr. Youssouf Djitté, Chief of Staff of the Ministry, in the presence of the CAPE coordinator, Ms. Madjiguène Diop. and the Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Senegal, Mr. Albert Ewodo Ekani.

"The study provides an essential baseline for guiding public policies and future actions."

In addition to this overall objective, the initiative seeks to strengthen the legal framework and law enforcement, as well as the capacity of the justice, social services, and education sectors, regarding the protection of children online. Efforts are also underway to improve the quality and accessibility of child protection services to provide appropriate support and care for children who are victims of online violence. Finally, the project aims to engage families and parents as proactive agents in preventing online violence against children.

This workshop is therefore a key step in the technical and institutional consolidation process, aiming to ensure the formal and concerted validation of the study's results and recommendations by all stakeholders. It is a continuation of the multi-sectoral coordination work carried out by CAPE to guarantee coherent and shared governance of online child protection (OCP) in Senegal. Indeed, the goal is to refine the priorities already defined by the initiative, while establishing a baseline for monitoring and evaluating the impact of future interventions.

According to the coordinator of CAPE, this meeting marks an important step in their joint effort to better understand, prevent, and respond to the risks that the digital environment poses to children. "For several years, the Child Protection Support Unit, under the supervision of the Ministry of Family, Social Action, and Solidarity, has been working to make online child protection a national priority through multi-sectoral coordination, awareness-raising, and capacity building for stakeholders," emphasized Ms. Madjiguène Diop.

Even better, she adds: "The study we are validating today, conducted by Bamtare Impact Group with the support of UNICEF, reinforces this dynamic. It constitutes an essential reference basis for guiding public policies and future actions."

In this regard, the CAPE coordinator commended the quality of the partnership between the State of Senegal, UNICEF, and all the stakeholders involved in this initiative. Ms. Diop also reassured everyone that her team remains "fully committed to continuing this collective work to guarantee every child in Senegal a safe, protective, and caring digital environment."

Conducted in six regions and developed using a gender-transformative approach.

This landmark study on the online child protection situation in Senegal, conducted by UNICEF in collaboration with CAPE, was developed using a gender-transformative approach, co-creation processes with children and adolescent girls, and the socio-ecological model. It was carried out in the regions of Dakar, Kolda, Kédougou, Sédhiou, Tambacounda, and Ziguinchor.

The results reveal that internet access is now widespread among children, with a high frequency of use.

The Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Senegal, after commending the commitment of the Senegalese authorities, under the leadership of the Ministry of Family, Social Action and Solidarity, for their political will which is "translated into concrete initiatives", particularly through the Child Protection Support Unit, stressed the need to ensure that children can grow up in a safe, inclusive and protective online environment.

“At a time when digital technology is profoundly shaping our lifestyles, economies, and social interactions, it is essential to ensure that our children can grow up in a safe, inclusive, and protective online environment. While the internet represents a tremendous opportunity for learning and personal growth, it also exposes young people to new and complex risks, often invisible but very real: harassment, bullying, exploitation, and exposure to inappropriate content. Guaranteeing their online safety is now a major societal challenge, requiring the involvement of the government, civil society, the private sector, and families alike, because children's rights do not disappear when screens are turned on,” stated Mr. Albert Ewodo Ekani.

For him, this study represents a crucial step towards building an effective and coordinated national online protection ecosystem, based on factual data, concrete action plans, and relevant recommendations to guide public policies and prevention programs. The results also provide valuable insights into the current situation.

According to the deputy representative of UNICEF in Senegal, "the results of this study reveal that internet access is now widespread among children, with a high frequency of use: the majority of girls (385 out of 655) and boys (301 out of 489) access the internet at least once a day."

The study also highlights the digital spaces that pose the greatest risk to the most vulnerable children: social networks remain the main place for harassment and intimidation, representing 46% of reported cases.

"The study offers an in-depth analysis of the current situation of online child protection in Senegal."

Presiding over the meeting on behalf of Ms. Maïmouna Dièye, who was unable to attend, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Family, Social Action, and Solidarity reiterated the importance of this survey. "The study that brings us together today constitutes a decisive step in this process because it offers an in-depth analysis of the current situation regarding online child protection in Senegal. It was conducted using a gender-transformative approach, integrating the voices of children and adolescent girls, and is based on the socio-ecological model, which highlights the interactions between individuals, families, institutions, and society," stated Mr. Youssouf Djitté.