Children’s Rights in the Digital World: A Multistakeholder Approach

UNICEF and ITU are convening a session to address a multi-stakeholder approach to child online protection. Using the Global Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Online, along with other initiatives and coalitions as foundations, stakeholder representatives from government, NGOs - including hotlines and helplines, law enforcement and the ICT industry are invited to come together to address the challenges that arise from effectively combating online child abuse, and providing adequate support for victims.

The need to protect children from violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs is recognized by the international community and within the WSIS action lines. WSIS Action Lines note the need for coordination across the “national, regional, and international levels”, as well as bridging “the digital divide between developed and developing countries”.

Section C5-c specifically declares the need for “special emphasis for protection… of children online…”. In using the available framework set out by the Global Alliance participants can engage on action items stemming from the key policy targets:

• enhancing efforts to identify victims and ensuring that they receive the necessary assistance, support and protection;
• enhancing efforts to investigate cases of child sexual abuse online and to identify and prosecute offenders;
• increasing awareness among children, parents, educators and the community at large about the risks;
• reducing the availability of child pornography online and the re-victimization of children.