EP.01 | S1 | Safe by Design: A Conversation with Doreen Bogdan-Martin on Child Online Protection

What does it really take to keep children safe in an increasingly connected Africa? In this episode of SheShapes Africa, host Caroline Mbugua HSC sits down with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), for a candid conversation on child online protection and why it must sit at the heart of Africa's digital agenda. As connectivity accelerates across a continent where 60% of the population is under 25, the stakes have never been higher. "We need to make sure that the internet can be the land of opportunity for young people, but in a responsible, safe, and trusted way." - Doreen Bogdan-Martin , Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Why it matters now - The numbers are stark. Up to one in three young people has experienced online bullying or harassment at least once. Connectivity without safety is not progress. Partnership at the core - ITU, GSMA, and UNICEF have joined forces through the newly launched Child Online Protection Africa Task Force. Doreen unpacks what this coalition is designed to do and why no single organization can move the needle alone. Building skills alongside access - It is not enough to get children connected. Digital literacy must come with the connection, and young people themselves must have a seat at the policy table. A message to the next generation - Doreen speaks directly to young leaders: bring your voice, share your ideas, and help shape the solutions that will define your digital world. The vision - Drawing on her own experience as a mother of four, Doreen describes what a truly safe internet looks like: one where opportunity and protection are not trade-offs, but by design. The message is clear: more awareness, better tools, and faster implementation. The task force has launched. Now it is time to move. Hosted by Caroline Mbugua HSC. — An initiative by Caroline Mbugua HSC In partnership with THOP Institute Produced by ASER45 Agency