The head of the Tunisian Association for the Defense of Children's Rights, Moez Sharif, has called for an urgent review of the mechanisms for handling child-related issues in the media and digital space in Tunisia. He emphasized the need to develop rights-based concepts related to childhood and provide parents with "parental education" programs to protect their children from all forms of violence, particularly psychological and digital violence.
Sharif criticized the way some media outlets and virtual platforms handled a recent case of a 15-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted in Tunisia. He demanded the protection of children's personal data on social media and all media and digital platforms to prevent negative psychological and social effects on victims.
The association's head noted that the media handling of child-related issues is often limited to approaching painful incidents in a sensational and defamatory style, which turns the child victim into a permanent "social stigma" project. Despite children making up 30% of Tunisia's population, media content focused on childhood remains marginalized, he added.
Sharif warned of the increasing digital violence against children on social media, which fuels blatant violations against them by publishing their images and video clips. He stressed the urgent need to protect the personal data of child victims to avoid long-term negative psychological effects.
The protection of children is a comprehensive societal approach that involves all stakeholders, from early childhood to adolescents and young people, Sharif said. He added that it is unfair to place sole responsibility on families, as Tunisian families invest in their children in different ways that serve their best interests.
A 2025 study on "the cost of violence against children in Tunisia," published by the Ministry of Family, Women, Childhood, and Elderly Affairs, in collaboration with the Child Rights Observatory and supported by UNICEF, reported a record increase in reports of online violence against children, particularly sexual exploitation and abuse via the internet, and the circulation of illicit images and clips.
The study found that the number of reports of online violence against children exceeded 124,000 cases in 2023, compared to around 66,000 reports in 2019. Sharif's call for an urgent review of media handling of child issues highlights the need for a more effective and protective approach to addressing child-related issues in Tunisia.
Key points
- The Tunisian Association for the Defense of Children's Rights urges the government to review its mechanisms for handling child-related issues in the media and digital space.
- The association reports a significant increase in online violence against children, with over 124,000 cases reported in 2023.
- The head of the association emphasizes the need for parental education programs to protect children from violence.
