Making the internet safe for children and youths urged

Empowering CSOs to protect freedom of expression of children and Youths - TDH

Dhaka: The digital world provides children and youths with unprecedented opportunities, while also exposing them to online risks and potential harms, said Civil Society activists.

Children and youths are facing a number of challenges such as cyber-bullying, sexual harassment, trafficking, economic loss due to participation in online game, and different types of violence while using online platform, which are forcing them to refrain from using the platform, they said.

The online platform can offer benefits for the children and youth. It is needed to increase their access to information, building skills for the digital workplace, and giving them a platform to connect and communicate their views, they added.

If they get access to freedom of expression in online platform, they can express their opinion and utilize their potentials, which can pave the way for establishing their rights. Hence, it is imperative to ensure safe digital space for them, they observed.

They made the remarks while addressing a project launching event titled ‘Speak Up EU-CSO’ at a hotel at Gulshan-2 in the capital.

Netherlands-based Child Rights international organization ‘Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) along with its three partners-- INCIDIN Bangladesh, Breaking The Silence and Ain o Salish Kendra--organized the event recently.

Under the project, 2000 children and youths in Dhaka city, Satkhira, Bagerhat and Gazipur districts would be imparted training on the prevention of online harassment of children and youths. They will work with local communities and authorities to achieve the target.

Our dual challenge is how to mitigate the harms while maximizing the benefits of the internet for every child. The government, parents and caregivers, educators, civil society, and children and young people themselves have a role to play in shaping a safe and positive digital environment for children, they observed.

‘We need to teach digital literacy to keep children informed, engaged and safe online; put children at the centre of digital policy; and protect children from harm online – including abuse, exploitation, trafficking, cyber bullying and exposure to unsuitable materials’.

The event was told that children (aged 15-18), and youths (aged 18-24) who resorted to the internet for the purpose of education and social opportunities during and after the Covid pandemic faced increased online harassment. Up to 32% of children were identified by UNICEF as victims of online violence.

The event was told that adolescents (aged 12–18) and youth (18–24), particularly those who are digitally active but lack the skills, resources, or safe environments to navigate the internet without fear or harm are vulnerable.

Brigadier General SM Moniruzzaman, Director General of Bangladesh Telecommunication regulatory Commission), attended as the chief guest, while Nazrul Islam, Country Manager of TdH Netherlands, was in the chair.

Mohammad Saiful Hassan, Joint Secretary, ICT Division, Enrico Lorenzon, Team Leader-Inclusive Governance, European Union delegation to Bangladesh, A.K.M. Masud Ali, Executive Director of INCIDIN Bangladesh, Tahmina Rahman, EC member of Ain o Salish Kendra, among others, spoke at the function. – Press release