Safe Online
End Violence teamed up with our partners in the technology sector – Microsoft, Twitter, TikTok and Roblox – to boost awareness of online sexual exploitation and abuse of young people across the globe. Together, we have created two videos, of which Playdate with a Predator is one, which help illustrate some of the sexual risks children face online. Learn more at end-violence.org/protect
updated 3 years ago
The event will leverage and build the momentum towards the Global Ministerial Conference on ending violence against children on 7-8 November 2024 hosted by the Governments of Colombia and Sweden, in partnership with WHO, UNICEF and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on ending violence against children (SRSG VAC).
Key points from the event include:
- The urgent need to prioritize child safety in digital connectivity efforts, as highlighted by Dr. Najat Malla, UN Special Representative on Violence against Children.
- The alarming increase in online child sexual exploitation and abuse, with one incident reported every second according to the Childlight study.
- ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized the growing complexity of online risks due to emerging technologies like AI and deepfakes.
- Experts discussed strategies to maximize the benefits of connectivity while minimizing risks, including integrating online safety into tech infrastructure and education curricula.
- The importance of child safety-by-design and embedding safety considerations throughout the connectivity lifecycle was stressed.
- Cathy Li from the World Economic Forum highlighted the need to prioritize safety and ethics in AI and emerging technologies.
- Chris Fabian, Giga's Co-Lead, concluded by emphasizing the potential of technology to combat online threats when developed responsibly.
This event brings together policymakers, tech and digital players, connectivity partners, and child safety advocates, educators, and donors to help create a common understanding of online risks to children, showcase practical strategies and solutions, and foster collaboration among key players.
The culmination of the Together to #ENDviolence campaign and Solutions Summit Series takes place at a centre-piece high-level Leaders’ Event on Tuesday 14th, 2022 – bringing together the end violence community and other critical stakeholders to celebrate progress and provide a global platform for international leaders to make the political and financial commitments needed to accelerate action.
Comprehensive dialogue on the current global context, what works and what needs to be done to end all forms of violence against children in all settings – at home, in schools, communities and online.
More information on speakers:
From children sharing their perspectives, solutions and calls to action to #ENDviolence to the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed and Heads of UN Agencies placing the issue at the heart of the 2030 Agenda; From adult survivors of childhood sexual violence from the Brave Movement sharing their powerful testimonies and demands, to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France and other heads of state and government ministers showcasing national and international action to protect children; H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Chair of the Board Global Partnership for Education will place a spotlight on the importance of all children being safe to learn, and David Milliband will speak about protecting children from violence in conflict settings. Ashton Kutcher will talk about the need to keep kids safe online and his journey to do so and leading economist Jeffry Sachs will address the data, numbers and smart investments for a safer world for children.
To learn more about the End Violence Partnership, visit: end-violence.org
Safe Online has been operating in the child online safety space for over 6 years, working towards our goal of making the digital world a safe place for children and young people.
Learn more:
https://safeonline.global/
- Framework Advancement (ISO/IEC 27566-1): We successfully advanced the ISO/IEC 27566-1 framework, reaching a consensus among experts. This paves the way for its release as a Committee Draft, inviting input from national standards bodies worldwide.
- New Standardization Project (ISO/IEC WD1 27566-2): We initiated a new standardization project addressing key deployment issues, technical architecture, and privacy/security guidelines for age assurance solutions. This project, now ISO/IEC WD1 27566-2, is set to define technical approaches and implementation guidelines.
- Multi-Modal Approaches (ISO/IEC WD2 27566-3): Exploring multi-modal approaches to measure and test age assurance systems, considering efficacy, fairness, comparability, and repeatability. ISO/IEC WD2 27566-3 aims to establish benchmarks for benchmarking analysis.
- Consensus Statement: Through extensive consultation among the 700+ participants, facilitated by BSI, we crafted a consensus Summit Communique reflecting the current status, state-of-the-art, and development of age assurance standards.
- Supporting Safe Online and Age Check Certification Scheme: We gathered substantial evidence to bolster the Safe Online and Age Check Certification Scheme, accumulating insights from 227 sessions to be prepared for publication in the coming weeks.
In addition to our professional achievements, we enjoyed a vibrant week in Manchester, connecting with delegates from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to drive progress in age assurance standards globally!
Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more updates on industry standards and innovations. Thanks for watching!
“My name is Sasha, I am looking for my mom. We were separated in a filtration camp… Russians told me my mom doesn’t care about me any longer," he shares. Sasha’s story is just one story out of 16 thousand.
40 speakers – including heads of state and United Nations leadership, children and survivors of childhood violence, royalty, CEOs and celebrities – were joined by over 1,000 participants from 143 countries, to accelerate progress towards a shared vision of a world where every child grows up in a safe, secure and nurturing environment.
The event witnessed a comprehensive discussion on the current global context, placing a spotlight on what works and what needs to be done to #ENDviolence against children at home, in schools, in communities and online.
Safe Online spoke to David Lega, Member of the European Parliament and the Co-Chair, Intergroup on Children's Rights. Watch his message.
Safe Online spoke to Iain Drennan, Executive Director, WeProtect Global Alliance. Watch his message.
Safe Online spoke to Emilio Puccio, Secretary General of the Intergroup on Children’s Rights, European Parliament. Watch his message.
Safe Online spoke to Cathy Li, Head of Media, Entertainment and Sport at the World Economic Forum. Watch her message.
Co-organised by the European Parliament, End Violence’s Safe Online Initiative and WeProtect Global Alliance, it provided a platform for key actors and experts from relevant sectors, including government and tech industry, to discuss the current data ecosystem and identify gaps, solutions and opportunities for collaborative efforts, with a particular focus on the EU context and the upcoming online CSEA legislation.
To address this evolving crime, specialized police units - with dedicated tools,
skills, and resources - are urgently needed in all countries.
It is key that child survivors feel supported by the police to come forward, tell their stories and get help.
We need immediate action to keep children #SafeOnline
Learn more at end-violence.org/disrupting-harm
But the truth is 1 in 3 children don't report online abuse to anyone
Why?
48% don’t know where to go, or who to tell
21% feel embarrassed, or find it too emotionally difficult to speak about it
And 16% worry they might get in trouble
As adults, we should
- Help children understand what is okay and what is not okay
- Be there when they need to talk
- And listen without blaming the child
#DisruptingHarm is everyone’s responsibility
Learn more at end-violence.org/disrupting-harm
Online platforms are great spaces for children to express themselves, connect with friends, and learn new things.
But there are also risks involved
Children can encounter sexual content by accident.
Or be targeted directly by sexual offenders.
So, let’s start asking what more can social media platforms do to help?
#DisruptingHarm is a shared responsibility
Learn more at end-violence.org/disrupting-harm
While abuse by strangers does happen, threats of harm are often much closer to home.
Evidence shows only 20% of children sexually abused online in Namibia are targeted by strangers.
But most children are abused online by someone they already know.
This is not unique to Namibia – similar patterns are found in Kenya, Mozambique and Thailand.
Evidence is key to keeping children #SafeOnline
Learn more at end-violence.org/disrupting-harm
Similar patterns are seen across Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia and Uganda.
Online and other forms of violence are connected, and, therefore, need to be addressed together
Evidence is key to keeping children #SafeOnline
Learn more at end-violence.org/disrupting-harm
sexual harassment, abuse, or exploitation?
Although 50% of caregivers say they’d report it to the police, very few cases are actually reported.
Why?
Many children and caregivers simply don’t know where to report or whom to tell.
They may feel confused or helpless during police investigations and in court
Or become discouraged by complex, unfamiliar language.
And sharing these experiences again and again with different strangers can be painful.
The first step to seeking justice is to report a crime.
So let's create justice systems people can rely upon and trust.
Victims in the Philippines are 3.5 times more likely to commit self-harm.
And victims who experience it in Cambodia are 2.7 times more likely to think about suicide.
Similar patterns are seen across Eastern and Southern Africa.
Every child deserves a loving nurturing and safe environment.
Evidence is key to keeping children #SafeOnline
10% of children In Uganda were offered money or gifts for their sexual images or videos.
What does it look like in your country?
Evidence is key to keeping children #SafeOnline
Learn more at end-violence.org/disrupting-harm
Last year, up to 20% of children in Eastern and Southern Africa and Southeast Asia experienced online sexual abuse.
Up to 20% of children – That means millions of boys and girls face this threat every year - with devastating consequences.
Evidence is key to keeping children #SafeOnline
Learn more at end-violence.org/disrupting-harm
Young people from around the world have come together to co-produce a new creative film, titled ‘Don’t Fail Us’, to share their experiences of violence in and around school and demand action from world leaders to end violence and transform education systems. As a part of this, each young person has developed their own in-depth film, sharing their journey and calls to action.
Giang from Viet Nam speaks about their experience of mental health issues, verbal abuse and isolation from peers, and lack of adequate support from school teachers. They are calling for increased support for mental health in the school system and an end to stigma and discrimination.
“I want to see schools where mental health issues are looked at just as any other physical challenges. And there will no longer be barriers, stigma or discrimination to stop us.”
Their experiences are unique but they reflect the global reality that hundreds of millions of young people experience violence in and around school every year. Act now to transform education and make it safe to learn. Join the Safe to Learn Call to Action.
https://www.end-violence.org/safetole...
Young people from around the world have come together to co-produce a new creative film, titled ‘Don’t Fail Us’, to share their experiences of violence in and around school and demand action from world leaders to end violence and transform education systems. As a part of this, each young person has developed their own in-depth film, sharing their journey and calls to action.
Falastin from Kenya shares her experience of discrimination and bullying by students, with her school teachers failing to take action. She is calling for more inclusive schooling and for bullying to be addressed in the curriculum.
“The perfect school for me is where there is no bullying, one where people will think differently, dress differently and look differently.”
Her experiences are unique but they reflect the global reality that hundreds of millions of young people experience violence in and around school every year. Act now to transform education and make it safe to learn. Join the Safe to Learn Call to Action.
end-violence.org/safetolearn/call
Young people from around the world have come together to co-produce a new creative film, titled ‘Don’t Fail Us’, to share their experiences of violence in and around school and demand action from world leaders to end violence and transform education systems. As a part of this, each young person has developed their own in-depth film, sharing their journey and calls to action.
Josephine from Sierra Leone speaks about her experience of childhood sexual violence at home and at school, and about abuse practices such as young people being forced to have ‘sex for grades’ by teachers. She sets out her dedication to education despite the violence she faced and why she continues to fight for all girls in Sierra Leone and beyond to have a safe education. She is calling for urgent action to make education safe for all girls and for investment in teacher training and proper pay.
“The poverty of teachers will always affect the quality of education. We must invest in teachers so that education…will be safe.”
Her experiences are unique but they reflect the global reality that hundreds of millions of young people experience violence in and around school every year. Act now to transform education and make it safe to learn. Join the Safe to Learn Call to Action.
end-violence.org/safetolearn/call
Young people from around the world have come together to co-produce a new creative film, titled ‘Don’t Fail Us’, to share their experiences of violence in and around school and demand action from world leaders to end violence and transform education systems. As a part of this, each young person has developed their own in-depth film, sharing their journey and calls to action.
Jesus from Colombia speaks about losing out on school and learning due to refugee status and of the violence in and around his school in Colombia. He shares the impact this has had on him and his friends being able to safely get an education. He is calling for refugees to be treated with dignity and afforded the right to education.
“We are humans, we have rights, and we do not understand why we cannot go to school. My message to you is simple. We are not invisible… We are the future and we have the potential to change the world.”
His experiences are unique but they reflect the global reality that hundreds of millions of young people experience violence in and around school every year. Act now to transform education and make it safe to learn. Join the Safe to Learn Call to Action: end-violence.org/safetolearn/call
Content warning: discussion of violence, sexual violence, discriminatory actions, suicide and eating disorders
Violence against young people in and around schools affects 246 million young people around the world each year. The need to act is urgent. Young people from around the world have come together to co-produce a new creative film, titled ‘Don’t Fail Us’, to share their experiences of violence in and around school and demand action from world leaders to end violence and transform education systems.
Act now to transform education and make it safe to learn. Join the Safe to Learn Call to Action: end-violence.org/safetolearn/call
“The education system failed us.
It was supposed to look after us and keep us safe to learn. But it failed.
If we don’t act now, a future generation is at risk.
Dear World Leaders, act now to transform education and make it safe.
Don’t fail us.”
Act now to transform education and make it safe to learn. Join the Safe to Learn Call to Action.
Meet the film’s co-producers:
Josephine, Sierra Leone: “We say we have free education but how free is this education if it’s costing girls their dignity, their bodies, their mental health, and their future?”
Falastin, Kenya: “The perfect school for me is where there is no bullying, one where people will think differently, dress differently and look differently.”
Giang, Viet Nam: “I want to see schools where mental health issues are looked at just as any other physical challenges. And there will no longer be barriers, stigma or discrimination to stop us.”
Jesus, Colombia: “We are humans, we have rights, and we do not understand why we cannot go to school. My message to you is simple. We are not invisible… We are the future and we have the potential to change the world.”
The young people are supported by youth networks and programmes from the following organisations: Education Cannot Wait, the Global Partnership for Education, Plan International, Purposeful, She Leads, Transform Education, UNESCO, and UNICEF.
The film was produced by On Our Radar, who specialise in working with affected communities, in a highly participatory process with the young people involved.