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ITU and Child helpline International are working together to
protect children online
Geneva, 19 May 2016 – ITU and Child Helpline International
(CHI) launch the Campaign: “Partnering to Protect Children and Youth”, which
aims to showcase how ITU membership (Member States, regulators, industry and
academia) are strengthening the work of national child helplines while fostering
awareness and collaboration on Child Online Protection (COP) issues.
In 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society adopted the Tunis
Agenda, which specifically called for safeguards within the ICT environment
“incorporating regulatory, self-regulatory, and other effective policies and
frameworks to protect children and young people from abuse and exploitation
through ICTs” and integrating them “into national plans of action and
e-strategies”.
These goals are supported by recommendations in
resolution 179 (ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, Busan,
2014) and
Resolution 67 (World Telecommunication Development
Conference, Dubai, 2014)
The ITU – CHI partnership aims to find technological solutions to protect
children online at both global and regional levels.
“Protecting children and youth, especially in the increasingly networked
environment in which we live will contribute towards achieving the sustainable
development goals,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “It is our duty to
provide a safe environment for young minds to be able to benefit from the wealth
of information and knowledge available online without fear of exploitation and
worse.”
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specifically targets ending all
forms of violence and exploitation of children.
The Campaign ‘Partnering to Protect Children and Youth’ will recognize the
efforts of ITU members which actively support child helplines in their
commitment towards achieving a safer and more secure online and offline
environment for children.
ITU members will be encouraged to fill out an online survey that collects
best practices and initiatives on the promotion and development of child
helplines. Case studies will be presented at
ITU Telecom World 2016,
which will take place 14-17 November 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Parkes
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
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About ITU...
About CHI
Child Helpline International (CHI) is the global network of 183 members that
listen and help children and young people in 142 countries. Collectively, child
helplines have received over 300 million contacts from children since CHI’s
inception in 2003.
CHI coordinates the network’s global and regional advocacy, facilitates
knowledge transfer, capacity building and communication amongst its child
helpline members, influences policy and works with other global and regional
organisation to improve children’s lives. CHI has supported the creation and
strengthening of child helplines, and has enhanced their recognition as an
essential part of child protection systems.
www.childhelplineinternational.org/