Rwanda Child Online Protection Policy

The Rwanda Child Online Protection Policy (COP Policy) aims to mitigate the risks and harms of using digital technologies for children. It is designed to meet children’s needs, fulfil their rights, and enable them to safely navigate the digital environment. The policy reflects Rwanda’s commitment to children’s rights and involves a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including government agencies, ICT companies, communities, civil society organisations, parents, teachers, and children. The policy includes establishing a governance framework to coordinate and extend existing domestic regulatory and legislative frameworks, strengthen law enforcement capacity, provide education and training for all stakeholders, establish data protection measures, create reporting and takedown mechanisms, and promote children’s positive uses of digital technologies. The policy seeks to build on Rwanda’s efforts to protect children online and establish the country as a regional leader in child online protection. The procedure was introduced in response to the risks of minors being exposed to adult content, violence, human trafficking, and unwanted sexual advances due to the fast-growing ICT development in Rwanda. The COP Policy reflects Rwanda’s recognition of children’s rights as a pillar of public policy and its commitment to the safety and well-being of children, the nation’s greatest asset.