KATHMANDU, Feb 14: A study conducted by various government and non-government agencies on the situation of children and women affected by online abuse has revealed that children are more likely to be involved in online abuse.
According to data from the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police, out of 635 children, 253 boys and 382 girls were reported as victims of cybercrime in the fiscal year 2022/23, according to CIB's Senior Sub-Inspector and Technician Sabitra Karki. She stated that the number of women above the age of 18 registered in the Bureau was 8,745. Karki added that more than 81 percent of online incidents in Nepal occurred through Facebook.
In the context of Safer Internet Day, Voice of Children and Ibert Nepal organized an interaction on the situation of children and women affected by online abuse and the role of media personnel in ensuring internet safety on Thursday in Kathmandu. The presented data highlighted that most victims of online harassment in Nepal are girls.
“Cybercrime is an illegal act committed through the misuse of computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices and networks. Unauthorized access and copying, deletion, or alteration of data, damage to source code, and illegal publication are examples of cybercrime,” said Karki.
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She added, “Looking at the current trend of cybercrime in Nepal, it appears that luring someone, email insecurity, hacking data, electronic fraud, cyberstalking, the use of obscene words in Bhojpuri songs, cybercrimes during mobile repairs at mobile centers, and tattoos on the body are all forms of cybercrime being observed.” She noted that since the modern world is heavily dependent on the internet, it is crucial to be aware of its safe use.
“According to the Electronic Transactions Act 2063, the government has stipulated a maximum fine of Rs 200,000 and a prison sentence of up to five years. It is important to know that if the victim files a complaint, the guilty party will be punished according to the crime,” she said.
In 2023, Voice of Children and Kindernothilfe (KNH) Germany conducted a study involving 514 children, families, and stakeholders related to child protection and child justice in the Koshi and Bagmati provinces. The study included 58 percent children, 34 percent families, 7 percent stakeholders, and 1 percent LGBTQ+ community participation. According to the findings, 38.6 percent of girls and 32.3 percent of boys had been victims of sexual calls and messages, said Krishna Kumar Thapa, director of Voice of Children.
Similarly, Thapa stated that among the girls aged 13 to 18 who participated in the study, 34 percent said they had received pornographic photos, 13.6 percent said they had received pornographic videos, and 6.8 percent reported being subjected to other forms of abuse and exploitation online.
“Not only girls but boys have also become victims of online abuse. In the study, 32.3 percent of boys reported receiving sexual messages, 29.2 percent received obscene photos, 15.4 percent encountered obscene language and videos, and 6.2 percent reported experiencing other forms of online harassment and exploitation.”
“These children were from our schools, communities, and neighborhoods,” he said. “Of the children included in the study, 97 percent were found to have access to the internet, while 99 percent of parents said that although they had access to the internet, they had little knowledge about online child sexual abuse and were unaware of legal provisions, complaint procedures, the role of internet service providers, digital literacy, and parental education.”
It has been 34 years since Nepal signed and committed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
The Constitution of Nepal (2072 BS) has enacted numerous laws, rules, guidelines, and procedures related to child rights and protection, including the Children Act (2075 BS) and its regulations (2078 BS). However, due to a lack of effective implementation, children remain vulnerable to sexual abuse, exploitation, violence, trafficking, and other violations of their rights, said Nirmala Sharma, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ).
“I have found in my own research that victims lack information on how and where to file a complaint after experiencing online abuse,” said President Sharma. “It is challenging for a single cyber bureau at the center to cover all 77 districts, and on the other hand, the rude behavior of the police makes victims afraid to file a complaint.”
According to Kamala Parajuli, Chairperson of the National Women's Commission (NWC), while it is essential to formulate state policies and regulations for the safe use of the internet and ensure their effective implementation, it is equally necessary for concerned organizations to take the initiative and collaborate in building a safe society for children and women.
