Moldova, present for the first time at the annual Safer Internet Forum
The executive director of La Strada Elena Botezatu returned from the Safer Internet Forum, which is organized annually since 2014 in Brussels by the European Commission within the Better Internet for Kids initiative.
This year, the international forum was dedicated to the discussions of representatives of governments, civil society, international organizations, the private sector and young people on the priorities of the new European strategy for a better internet for kids, approved by the European Commission on 11 May 2022.
The new European strategy proposes actions of the EU member states focused on three pillars of intervention:
- Secure digital experiences to protect children from illegal online content, conduct and contact risks targeting children as young internet consumers, and measures to ensure children’s psycho-emotional wellbeing by creating a safer environment with age-appropriate services and products;
- Digital empowerment of all children, so that even those in situations of vulnerability have the necessary skills and competences to make the right decisions and express themselves online in a safe and responsible way;
- Active participation of children, by creating opportunities for them to express themselves in the digital environment, through innovative and creative involvement of children in the digital environment.
Priorities at European level also include initiatives aimed at involving the private sector in preventing and combating sexual abuse and exploitation by setting appropriate standards for checking the age of online users, providing support for fast analysis of illegal and harmful content. The ICT industry is encouraged to assess possible risks to children as a result of the use of digital products and services, to implement effective measures of providing access to content according to age categories, and to cooperate with hotline services to quickly remove illegal or harmful content from the internet.
The International Center La Strada is one of the organizations chosen by the European Commission under the Better Internet for Kids + Program, which supports countries that are not members of the European Union to develop services and programs to promote online child safety at national level according to European standards. In this context, for 12 months, Siguronline specialists will receive guidance in implementing prevention initiatives and conducting awareness campaigns in the context of Safer Internet Day, to involve young people in generating innovative solutions for their online safety, to develop educational programs and the service for reporting child sexual abuse materials.
Find out more about Safer Internet Forum here.