Children face numerous risks on the Internet. Privacy of personal data, fake news, violent and inappropriate content, and many other related issues threaten users daily. Advances in ICTs have increased the opportunities for children to access the web as well as the risks that come with it. The ITU Regional Office is committed to protecting and empowering children online in the CIS Region by implementing the ITU Guidelines on Child Online Protection (COP).
In the Republic of Armenia, the ITU, in partnership with the Union of Operators of Armenia, has been implementing long-term work in Child Online Protection. The COP Guidelines for policy-makers, industry, parents and educators are currently being translated into Armenian and sent to all interested parties and institutions with the aim of disseminating them to a wide audience working with children.
In order to educate children, an extensive information campaign was conducted, including trainings, in particular in the second quarter of 2022 alone, in a total of 1,400 children from 29 schools covering 10 regions of Armenia (730 boys, 670 girls, 64 teachers). Situations that happened to them were discussed with the children, and mechanisms were identified together for responding correctly to various online risks.
The multimedia distance learning course OnlineSafety.am, developed by the ITU and localized together with the Union of Operators of Armenia, is progressing. As a result of two months of information events, 3696 certificates of online course have been issued, among whom 2810 were issued to children of preschool and primary school age, 801 - to middle school children, 85 - to high school students, students, parents, and teachers. Information about the course is posted on the website of the National Centre for Educational Technologies of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Armenia and sent to all schools in Armenia. The topic of COP continues to be actively covered in the media space and social networks.
" I believe in the importance of an integrated approach, involving all parties involved in a child's life: parents, school, state. For this reason, it is important that each party clearly understands its role in ensuring child safety online and, accordingly, applies appropriate measures. Globally, more than ever, ensuring the safety of children on the Internet requires a collaborative and coordinated international response, requiring the active participation and support of a large number of stakeholders," said Kristine Genjyan, Director of the Union of Operators of Armenia and National Coordinator for the implementation of the ITU Global COP Programme in the country.
The ITU COP Guidelines are a collaborative effort of 80 experts from different sectors, including government agencies, international organizations, NGOs, academia, and the private sector. The implementation of the COP Guidelines aims to coordinate global efforts to ensure respect for children's rights on the Internet in all parts of the world.
