How Lesotho is protecting children and their families in a digital age

At the government office in Maseru, a team of staff surrounds a screen led by the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Communication. Fully engaged and examining every detail, they are assessing their cybersecurity requirements ahead of a cybersecurity drill. Their aim is to safeguard the digital systems that support thousands of families relying on social services.

Lesotho’s social protection and service provision platforms hold sensitive information about children and families. If that data were ever compromised, the consequences could be devastating.

As a result, UNICEF, with support from the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is assisting the government in strengthening its cyber defences. Through the Safe Child project, Lesotho is carrying out a comprehensive Cyber Readiness Assessment.

“We are proud to be working with UNICEF to embed child rights into our digital systems. This is not just about technology, it’s about equity and access.”

This involves testing for vulnerabilities, training staff, and even piloting new cybersecurity controls specific to children.

Mr Kanono Ramashamole, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Communication, echoes this commitment: “We are proud to be working with UNICEF to embed child rights into our digital systems. This is not just about technology, it’s about equity and access.”

One of the most innovative tools being used is the Child Rights Cyber Maturity Addendum. It helps assess how well systems protect children’s data and whether they’re prepared for digital risks that could affect young users.