MoGCA and UNICEF Chart Future of Child Rights in AI Era

The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) partnered with UNICEF on Saturday to host a crucial consultation on child rights and artificial intelligence (AI). Representatives from the Children Forum Network (CFN) at the national and district levels joined the Freetown event.

Held at UNICEF headquarters in New England, Freetown, the forum brought together children alongside MoGCA officials, Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) staff, UNICEF representatives, and child protection stakeholders.

The consultation aimed to deepen children's understanding of AI. It provided a platform for them to voice perspectives on emerging opportunities, risks, and implications for their daily lives, while documenting their insights to guide ongoing policy considerations.

Discussions acknowledged AI's growing role in children's lives, especially expanding educational access, improving information-sharing, facilitating cross-language communication, and supporting problem-solving. However, stakeholders stressed the need to balance these benefits against threats to safety, privacy, dignity, and fundamental rights.

Daniel Albert Gbow, Acting Director of the Children’s Directorate at MoGCA, reaffirmed the Ministry’s mandate to protect and promote children’s rights. He stressed that child involvement in decision-making remains essential for developing effective policies and programmes.

UNICEF Child Protection Expert David Lamin addressed data protection and access to information. He underscored the importance of safeguarding personal information, particularly for vulnerable children and those in conflict with the law.

A plenary and group-work session divided children into four teams. They tackled questions on AI's opportunities, potential risks, its differential impact on various groups, and the responsibilities of governments and technology companies.

Participants raised concerns about online safety, privacy, misinformation, exposure to harmful content, and overreliance on AI. The youth noted that excessive dependence could weaken critical-thinking skills and highlighted unequal access to technology.

To address these issues, the children recommended stronger government oversight, appropriate regulations, and robust safeguards. They emphasised the need for inclusive access so all children benefit from AI tools supporting their learning and development.

The consultation concluded with a clearer understanding of AI’s dual nature. Organisers reinforced the importance of meaningful child participation in shaping emerging technology policies, responsible AI use, and effective safeguards to protect children’s well-being.