CHILD ONLINE SAFETY TOOLKIT
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Public awareness and communications
States parties should disseminate information and conduct awareness-raising campaigns on the rights of the child in the digital environment, focusing in particular on those whose actions have a direct or indirect impact on children. They should facilitate educational programmes for children, parents and caregivers, the general public and policy makers to enhance their knowledge of children’s rights in relation to the opportunities and risks associated with digital products and services. Such programmes should include information on how children can benefit from digital products and services and develop their digital literacy and skills, how to protect children’s privacy and prevent victimization, and how to recognise a child who is a victim of harm perpetrated online or offline and respond appropriately. Such programmes should be informed by research and consultations with children, parents and caregivers. Source: General comment No. 25 (2021), para 32257
Objective: To raise awareness of all child online safety issues across all sectors of the community, in order to prevent likely harms and promote positive internet use. This information will be disseminated widely, with specific programmes for different audiences. Model policy text:
To ensure a holistic approach to child online safety, each of the steps below is necessary. 8a. Generate a public awareness programme Awareness-raising strategies will help people understand and navigate the issue of child online safety while still benefiting from the online space. Materials to be produced should make clear the principles of child online safety and actions that can be taken to understand risk, mitigate harms, report offences and seek redress. This information will be provided in simple terms on official websites. Targeted messages and materials should be designed in consultation with children, young people and parents/carers. It should consider the specific needs of parents/carers and children, with particular attention given to the youngest and most vulnerable children – including those with learning disabilities or those without parental guidance. Peer-to-peer education is a valuable strategy for children of all ages to get to know their rights and responsibilities online. This programme of public messaging can help children and adults to understand the issues and make wise choices about their online interactions, but is not a replacement for formal education, professional training, safety by design or corporate responsibility. Such information should cover the full range of child online safety issues as set out in this policy.
257. General comment No. 25 (2021) on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment, UNCRC, 2021.
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