Rwanda Starts Tackling the Problem of Children Watching Pornographic Content

Technology offers many opportunities innovation, learning, communication, efficiency, and capacity-building for the 21st century. However, it also brings challenges, especially for children who often lack the maturity to make sound choices about what they view online.

Children face online risks grouped into four main categories: content-related, contact-related, conduct-related, and contract-related risks.

Content-related risks include exposure to degrading or sexual content, violent or discriminatory material, hate speech, false information, and content promoting harmful behavior.

Contact-related risks involve child exploitation, discrimination, bullying, hate speech, threats, and manipulation leading to risky or sexual encounters.

Conduct-related risks include cyberbullying, sexting, revenge porn, identity theft, public humiliation, coercion, online fraud, and gambling.

These issues can harm children’s mental and emotional well-being, prompting Rwanda to adopt a Child Online Protection Policy to address them.

Pornography: A Growing Threat

Pornographic content has become easily accessible on social media and online platforms. Children can stumble upon such material even without intending to search for it.

In Rwanda, pornography consumption is on the rise, with some people becoming addicted to it to the point that it disrupts their daily lives and relationships.

Young people who spoke to IGIHE said they began watching pornography between ages 12 and 16, which in some cases led to early sexual activity.

“I was about 16 when I first watched porn. Everyone at home was asleep, and I got curious,” one youth said.

Another added, “I started in primary school when I got my first small phone. By 16, I was already having sex.”

Government Response

Pornography websites are among the top 20 most visited in Rwanda, highlighting the urgency of the problem.

To protect children from such exposure, the Government of Rwanda launched the Child Online Protection Policy in September 2025, outlining measures to safeguard minors using the internet.

The policy calls for collaboration among government institutions and internet service providers to identify and block harmful content, enforce regulations, and penalize platforms that refuse to remove inappropriate materials.

It also proposes international-standard systems to monitor and track potential online offenders.

Moreover, the policy encourages digital service providers to adhere to ethical guidelines reflecting Rwandan values, especially concerning child safety online.

Key Objectives

• Prevent children from accessing inappropriate or harmful content.
• Protect children’s personal data and privacy.
• Strengthen cooperation between internet platforms, connected devices, and online streaming services.
• Ensure age-appropriate advertising and transparency in online media.
• Require digital service providers to flag or block content unsuitable for children.

The policy also introduces a free national hotline where citizens can report harmful content, seek help, or request the removal of explicit material.

Broader Vision

Children under 18 make up nearly half of Rwanda’s population. With the country rapidly expanding internet access and digitizing public services, ensuring child safety online has become a national priority.

The policy envisions a future where every child can use the internet safely, learn digital skills, and enjoy online rights without exposure to harm.

Its implementation involves various agencies, including the Ministries of Justice, Gender and Family Promotion, Local Government, ICT, RIB, RURA, RISA, REB, and the Rwanda National Police.

Over the next five years, the government plans to invest 1.52 billion Rwandan francs to roll out and monitor the policy’s effectiveness nationwide.