We are thrilled to welcome and introduce YOCUPA
(Youth Cultural Promotion Association), Zambia, as the newest INHOPE hotline and the third on the African continent, joining South Africa and Nigeria. As the need for a coordinated response to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) grows worldwide, Zambia’s commitment to tackling online threats through a dedicated hotline marks a significant step forward.

Tell us a bit about your hotline

Zambia is very happy and privileged to be given an opportunity to establish a civil society led hotline. This has come at a time when the country is experiencing a growth in adolescents having access to smart phones and being vulnerable to online child sexual abuse.

There has been an increasing amount of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) circulating on Zambia's social media platforms which the regulators like the Zambia Internet Communication and Technology Authority (ZICTA) and Service Providers have failed to remove. This has led to the general public questioning the role of ZICTA and its capacity to protect the consumers of technology like internet services. It is with this background that YOCUPA took up the challenge and embarked on establishing a hotline that would provide this missing service but greatly needed by the country.

How did you learn about the INHOPE network?

The idea of the hotline and INHOPE was introduced to us by our partner from Nigeria Juliet Ohahuru-Obiora of ACSAI who told us about their decision to establish a hotline in their country. So ACSAI introduced us to INHOPE.

What is the most challenging part of becoming a member?

The most challenging part of becoming a member of INHOPE is the mobilising of key stakeholders that would buy-in and support the idea, and most importantly, getting the support of the government and critical institutions that INHOPE requires that you bring on board in order to qualify. The other difficult part is that of meeting all the INHOPE assessment criteria in readiness for board approval.

What is the biggest benefit of joining INHOPE?

The biggest benefit of joining INHOPE is that it provides a unique service that allows a country to remove CSAM from the internet. It also brings in the aspect of national and international collaboration by making sure that key stakeholders buy in and become engaged in the affairs of the hotline. It enable the local human resource in a host country to acquire special skills and knowledge as analysts and administrators of the hotline. INHOPE allows the country to remove CSAM regardless of where it is hosted through its internal networks. Joining INHOPE is joining the biggest hotline network in the world.

What would you tell an organisation trying to become a member?

First and foremost, this is the best and only available global organisation that can effectively respond to a country's CSAM challenges. It allows nations to independently decide when and how to address CSAM while benefiting from the collective knowledge and experience of multiple countries. By becoming a member, a country gains a platform to network, share experiences, and learn from best practices.


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