“Unfortunately, social media took away our privacy and exposed us to many risks and exploitation. There is no longer a private life; everything now is available to the public”.

This is how one of the female adolescents emphasized her opinion about cyber harassment and exploitation in society especially among youth age group, during the awareness raising campaign about cyber harassment and exploitation, which was implemented by SSSD’s team within GBV program in Homs, in cooperation with UNHCR.

The campaign held the title “Two-Edged Sword”, and targeted men, women and adolescents from both genders from local, displaced and newly returned communities in Shin and Al-Hosn regions.

The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the risks of cyber harassment and exploitation through social media platforms, considering it as a form of sexual harassment. In addition to discuss several methods of protection, and highlight the importance of reporting it when it happen.

During the activities, the beneficiaries clearly emphasized their concerns of being exposed to exploitation through social media one way or another.

 Some of the participants also shared their own experiences; a woman said, “I had an experience with exploitation before, which risked losing my marriage and kids.

Therefore, I advise you all, especially young girls, do not share personal information on any site, or leave your phones with your kids unsupervised, because they may leave the phone vulnerable to intrusion and spying”. One of the male adolescents said, “I do not oppose my sister having her own phone. I am against the uneducated use of the network, which may risk her safety and result many problems”.

It is a deprivation of childhood. A danger that negatively affects children physically, mentally, psychologically and socially, and exposes them to many risks. It is child labor, which spread gravely and increased its risks under the Corona pandemic.

In response to this this phenomenon, and on the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labor, SSSD’s team in Homs in cooperation with UNHCR launched an awareness raising campaign within Child Protection Program under the title “it is too early”, in Shin, Al-Hosn and Al-Qusayr.

The campaign targeted all age groups from both genders, and aimed to raise awareness about the risks of child labor, especially in light of the Corona pandemic. In addition to discussing its reasons, and cooperating with the beneficiaries to come up solutions to limit it in our society.

 During the campaign, the team implemented several sessions in the community centers, following all safety and precautionary measures such as periodic sterilization, wearing masks and gloves, maintaining social distancing, and limiting beneficiaries’ attendance for each session. 17 beneficiaries benefitted from these sessions.

 Other sessions were implemented through social media platforms in coordination with Health Point Program, and the legal department in SARC, benefitting about 505 beneficiaries.
Children and caregivers showed great interaction during the sessions, emphasizing its influence and the importance of providing the legal and health information related to child labor.

 To conclude the campaign, the adolescents of child protection clubs in the community centers shared the information through social media platforms, reaching over 240 beneficiaries. Moreover, they designed brochures explaining the risks of child labor and distributed them to 10 working children in their job locations, and encouraged them to follow safety procedures to protect themselves from Coronavirus.