Gender Ministry, UNICEF deepen partnership to tackle child protection, online abuse

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are seeking to strengthen their partnership to address emerging child protection challenges, particularly online abuse and the safety of children in digital spaces.

The commitment was reaffirmed when the UNICEF Representative to Ghana, Andy Brooks, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to discuss areas of mutual interest and opportunities for closer collaboration.

Mr Brooks stressed the need for stronger technical cooperation between the two institutions to respond to emerging threats, including violence against women and children and the growing risks children face online.

He commended Ghana for its political commitment to child protection and social protection, noting that these priorities were reflected in the country's national development agenda.

Dr Lartey, in turn, highlighted the need for appropriate measures to protect children as their access to social media and other digital platforms expands.

She said efforts to safeguard children online must strike a balance between protecting them from harm and allowing them to benefit from the educational and developmental opportunities offered by technology.

The Minister also called for stronger collaboration to improve social service delivery at the decentralised level, particularly through better coordination between the Ministry and local government structures.

She said this would help ensure that social welfare interventions and child protection services reach communities effectively, especially those requiring greater support.

On Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), Dr Lartey emphasised the need to integrate early childhood development more firmly into Ghana's education system to ensure that early learning and care receive adequate attention.

The discussions also explored opportunities for joint advocacy and high-level engagements to advance children's rights.

Among the proposals was the possibility of Ghana hosting the 2027 launch of the African Union-UNICEF publication, State of Africa's Children, during the country's presidency of the African Union.

The two institutions also discussed collaboration towards the commemoration of World Children's Day, with a focus on ensuring meaningful participation of children in decisions and discussions affecting their lives.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership through technical cooperation, policy engagement and coordinated interventions in child protection, gender equality and social protection.