National Commission on the Rights of Child hosts Validation Workshop on Policy Brief on Child Online Protection
Excessive use of technology is bad for our physical, social and mental well-being :Ms. Daniela Luciani, Chief Child Protection UNICEF
ISLAMABAD: 24 Feb 2023 – A consultative meeting was convened by the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) in Islamabad on 24th February 2023 to share the findings, analysis and recommendations of the Policy brief on Child Online Protection in Pakistan. The meeting was presided over by Honorable Chairperson, National Commission on the Rights of Child, Ms. Afshan Tehseen and the key speakers were Mr. Imran Mehboob-Director Cyber Crime Wing, Mr. Babar Sohail- Additional Secretary Ministry of IT & Telecommunication and Daniela Luciani-Chief Child Protection UNICEF.
The use of the internet and technology is today’s reality. New technologies are fundamentally changing the lives of children in the twenty-first century. Children are among the most frequent users of new digital and online services. They can socialize, explore, learn and engage in creative activities on the internet. But the more time children spend online, the greater the risks and dangers they face.
According to the Policy Brief a total of 187 complaints were reported to FIA on Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and a total of 65 FIRs were registered and 69 accused for arrested. However, NCMEC CyberTipline reported a total of over 2 million cases of child sexual abuse material from Pakistan and forwarded it to FIA to respond under Pakistani law. The Policy Brief notes the awareness of the Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse remains low among key stakeholders in Pakistan.
(NCMEC’s CyberTipline is the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children in USA. The public and electronic service providers can make reports of suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, child sexual molestation, child sexual abuse material, child sex tourism, child sex trafficking, unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child, misleading domain names, and misleading words or digital images on the internet.)
Ms. Afshan Tehseen Chairperson shared that this Policy Brief on Child Online Protection aims to develop a better understanding of the risks and threats to children and to highlight the key challenges in protecting children in a rapidly changing digital landscape. It identifies the role of stakeholders and provides guidance to policy makers, governments including law enforcement agencies, businesses, civil society organizations and parents to create a safer world for our children.
Mr. Imran Mehboob Director Cyber Crime shared that Unit Counter on Online Child Abuse is a reporting Center setup by CCW as a specialized and dedicated Unit to combat online child abuse. UNOCA has designated focal persons in all 15 Cyber Crime Reporting Centers. The Director shared the FIA is overburdened with the ever-increasing number of cases, and the Cyber Crime Wing needs budgetary support.
Mr. Bahar Suhail, Additional Secretary congratulated NCRC for producing a very comprehensive Policy Brief on Child Online Protection. It is a challenging issue for the Government of Pakistan and there is a need that stakeholders work together and engage in collaboration. This may involve sharing information and best practices, conducting research to better understand the problem, and developing and implementing effective solutions.
Ms. Daniela Luciani, Chief Child Protection UNICEF that excessive use of technology is bad for our physical, social and mental well-being. Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) refers to a variety of sexually exploitative and harmful behaviours that take place or are facilitated online and through the use of information technologies. This is also due to a lack of knowledge of the subject matter. It is with great pleasure that National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) with the technical support of UNICEF presents Policy Brief on Child Online Protection.
The consultation was well attended by representatives of FIA, Ministry of Human Rights, UN Agencies, local NGOs, Child Rights Movement, Academia, Universities and Media.
