36% minor girls face online sexual abuse from friends

More than 36% of minor girls are being abused sexually by their friends on the virtual platforms, while some 27% girls are subjected to the abuse by known adults and relatives, and 18% by unknown adults.

A survey by human right organization Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) revealed the scenario on Thursday.

The survey was conducted on 178 children in Dhaka and Satkhira. Among them 82 were boys and 96 were girls.

Of them, more than 8% girls have been sexually abused and harassed online and about 8% girls have been exposed to cyber bullying and sexually explicit content.

In general, some 23% girls have encountered sexual content and 46% have received offers to be involved in a sexual relationship.

The organisation presented the report at a virtual views exchange meeting on Thursday afternoon, reports Prothom Alo.

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar was the chief guest at the event. He said the government has formulated a draft of Data Protection Act, to ensure digital security.

Of the participants, more than 64% children have their own mobile phones. The rest use their parent's phones.

In comparison to the girls, 63% boys aged between 15 and 18 have internet access at their own bedrooms.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, children have spent most of the day in online classes. As a result, they are being more vulnerable of virtual harassment or being harassed.

Programme coordinator of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Ambika Roy, presented the survey report at the meeting and BRAC University (School of Law) senior lecturer Saimum Reza Talukder presented a report on the review of the country's prevailing laws to prevent child abuse online.