UN High-Level Political Forum Side Event Focuses On Internet Safety
Never in recorded history have so many children and adolescents been out of school due to the coronavirus, depriving them of in-person education – an enormous setback to achieving the SDGs. Efforts underway to mitigate this education void through online education are an important step, but this increased presence on the internet escalates already prevalent dangers for young people by exposing them to targeting by traffickers.
On July 14th, ECPAT-USA hosted a virtual round table entitled Protecting the Well-Being of Children and Adolescents: Educating Parents and Families on Internet Safety that brought together experts in child sex trafficking and exploitation, child protection, and internet safety, for an important conversation that outlined what to watch for, and showcased tools and tips so families, educators and children themselves can enjoy the internet for learning and socializing, without becoming victims of unscrupulous predators.
The full discussion featuring Mánus de Barra, Child Protection Officer at the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children; John Carr, ECPAT International; Dr. Gail Dines, Culture Reframed (culturereframed.org); Kyra Wooden, Youth Outreach Manager ECPAT-USA; and Shanifa Bennett, Survivors’ Council, ECPAT-USA and moderated by Lori L. Cohen, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA is available below.
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