Experts, youth leaders tackle online harms to children
GLOBAL EXPERTS in online safety and members of ChildFund Alliance’s WEB Safe & Wise Children’s Advisory Council convened during “Safer Internet Day” at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig on Feb. 6.
With UNICEF and the International Justice Mission identifying the Philippines as the center of child sex abuse materials production, the council gathered to discuss the most pressing dangers to children online as well as solutions that can be adopted to ensure every child can engage and connect safely to the internet.
“As the digital landscape continues to rapidly evolve, new opportunities for children and young people increase, but so do the threats they face online. It’s imperative, therefore, that we work together— and with children—to create a better digital world” ChildFund’s WEB Safe & Wise initiative Senior Advisor Ryan DeSouza said during the media roundtable on the event.
The event started with remarks and speeches from distinguished children’s advocates, including Childfund Alliance Chair of the Board Simon Whyte, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Council for the Welfare of Children Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, Australia’s E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, and UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid.
One of the highlights of the council was the panel on “WEB Safe and Wise, Global Response and Insights,” which delved into efforts against online sexual abuse and the exploitation of children as well as promoting media literacy among the youth. Speakers from the panel included youth leaders from the Philippines, Paraguay, Indonesia, Mexico, Mozambique, and Uganda.
Another key discussion revolved around “Addressing the Challenges of Online Safety” where panelists presented initiatives specific to the Asia-Pacific region on child online sexual exploitations and civil society and industry responses.
The members of the panel for this talk were Director II of ChildFund International Mark Dasco; UNICEF Regional Advisor of Child Protection, East Asia and Pacific Office, Rachel Harvey; International Justice Missions Manila Office Director Reynaldo H. Bicol Jr.; Undersecretary Tapales; Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography Executive Director Margarita Magsaysay; Internet Harms Mitigation and Governmental Engagement, CleanDNS Director Chris Lewis-Evans; and ChildFund International Regional Director Hanneke Oudkerk.
The event comprised three more panel discussions such as “Intergenerational Dialogue on Online Safety and Gender” which focused on gender harassment, hate speech, and other online abuses; “Intergenerational Dialogue: Understanding Challenges of Online Safety and Empowering Young People to Respond,” where members discussed lived experiences around online safety and ways they are empowered to respond to the threat; and, finally, “Intergenerational Dialogue: Findings, Reflections and Right to the Future,” where youth leaders from different countries spoke about what everyone can do to be safer in the future.
ChildFund Alliance is a global network of 11 child-focused development and humanitarian organizations reaching nearly 36 million children and their family members in 70 countries.