Friday Apr 19, 2024
Friday Apr 19, 2024
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“Cyber exploitation and violence (CEV) is when someone is bullied, blackmailed, threatened, discriminated, and/or coerced, online. This includes the non-consensual distribution or publication of intimate photos or videos online, as well as any other material via memes, and edited images.
“Sri Lanka CERT 2015 data on types of online victimisation also suggest an increase in cyber exploitation and violence in Sri Lanka, especially around the use of social media applications. In 2016, the number of social media related incidents appear to have declined slightly (2200) perhaps due to the fact that victims found other avenues of support. They still appear to form the bulk of the reporting to SL CERT i.e. 2,200 out of a total of 2,341 incidents.
“Our response as parents, teachers, and concerned adults, cannot be to ban the use of social media, or the use of handheld online devices. The benefit of being online in terms of knowledge gathering and knowledge sharing is immeasurable. The online world is another space where we communicate with each other, where we build relationships. We must be conscious of respect for self, respect for the others, and respect for difference in all our interactions, both online and off it.” – www.Bakamoono.lk
‘Voice Walk 2017 – Be Wise Online,’ is a walk against child abuse which aims to protect children from cyber mobbing and help spread awareness about cybersecurity in Sri Lanka. It will take place on 19 August from 9 a.m. onwards, starting from Campbell Park in Borella and proceed to Diyawanna open stage (next to NDB).
Its main objectives are:
1: Awareness
2: Networking
3: Advocacy, policymaking
The purpose of this walk is to make people aware of their responsibilities and children regarding the current state of child abuse in our country. Voice Walk was launched in 2013 as a brave first step towards raising awareness against child abuse. In 2014 awareness was widened by adding media coverage and in 2015 a safe house was launched for potential victims of child abuse. In addition a pre-school, day care, and educational programs for children were also launched.
Four years down the line Voice Foundation wants to take it another step further to network all Government and non-Government children’s organisations, reach out to 25 different cities with 25 awareness walks and bring a holistic approach for children while creating wider awareness among parents and children about cyber mobbing in Sri Lanka and how to prevent it and protect children from being victimised.
This walk aims to draw attention of society, citizens, and parents to their responsibilities and help them understand how little things can make a big difference in preventing child abuse as a result of cyber mobbing. Given the current state of cyber mobbing in our country and how it has affected our generation, the Voice Walk is a step towards creating awareness on how we could prevent and minimise such incidents.
Awareness
We have to create an environment where a child is safe and secure, one in which they can enjoy their childhood with happiness and bliss. The dark side of internet and cyber bullying should be eradicated and the first step is creating awareness, exposing perpetrators and giving back our children a safe and secure environment to grow in. Creating awareness among parents, educators and the society is the initial step.
This year more emphasis is placed on cyber bullying as many parents are unaware of the severity of this problem and many are helpless not knowing what to do and what steps to take to combat this menace and find justice. The importance of understanding the dangers of unsafe methods of using the internet and how to help them secure their private information and photographs to safeguard their children is also highlighted.
1. Respect: Online and off– How do you treat people online and offline? How do you represent and show the respect you have for yourself online? -
2. Consent – How do people feel about sharing information with you? What rights do you have over sharing that information? How do you use the information on other people that you can access?
3. Be Sensible – What information do you share about yourself publicly and privately in online spaces? Do you trust the people you share it with? How do you decide what to share? Do you think through the consequences of your action?
Voice Walk 2017 locations
Colombo: Borella Campbell Park to Diyawanna open stage – contact Akash 0772512374
Galle: T.D. Samaraweera Grounds, Borakanda to Mahindanada Community Centre – contact Dammika 0716425915
Batticaloa: Chenkaladi Hospital, Eravur Police Station, Iyankerny and KP Nagar to Chankaldi United Grounds – contact Pastor Vishwanath 0774010688
Kilinochchi, Karadi Pokku, SLT Tower and Royal Preschool to Kilinochchi Cooperative Hall – contact Pastor Ashok 0772336759
Matara: Nuupe Junction to Matara Town – contact Pastor Ajith 0779004724
Mullaitivu: From Mullaitivu Beach to Mullaitivu Town Kids Park – contact Anesly Newman 0774188774
Trincomalee: Near T/T Pulmoddi Muslim Central Collage to Trinco junction – contact Mohomed Yaseer 0710863119
Tissamaharama – contact Pubudu 0773976797
Hambantota, Ranna – contact Pastor Gamini 0774902839
Networking
United we can spread awareness, collaborate and share resources together. Partnering with Government and non-Government organisations will help us create a better and stronger group and bring about changes faster. Regardless of whom we work for, let us strive to make changes as a unit of one support system.
Conduct meetings/workshops with local CSO in 24 districts on CEV by January 2018 – implemented by bakamoono.lk.
Training The Trainers (T3) on CEV for identified CSOs to conduct programmers with – implemented by Voice and bakamoono.lk.
Advocacy,
policy making
The current laws in relation to children who face mental/physical abuse and cyber bullying are inadequate and in most cases do not take into consideration the mental trauma the child victim faces. The current laws need to be amended to address the growing culture of abuse that children face – be it physical, mental or online.
Voice urges policymakers to partner with those engaged in child welfare who work closely with children who have been victimised to bring about greater understanding of the problem and believes this dialogue will broaden the understanding of the current problems and in turn it would help to bring about the required changes to the existing laws and place greater trust in the ability of the law to protect those from harm in Sri Lanka.
