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Right to Freedom of Expression and Information
Every child has the right to freedom of expression - online and offline. This right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child''s choice. (UN-CRC Art.13)
Digitisation yields countless new possibilities for people to acquire information and to make one’s opinion known to a wide range of other people. For children to not be exposed to unreasonable risks, while retaining their right to unrestricted freedom of expression and information, the digital environment must provide mechanisms of protection that take into account children’s age and evolving capabilities.
Focus
20.09.21World Children's Day 2021: Reason to celebrate children's rights in the digital world!
Jutta Croll, Stiftung Digitale Chancen
Today is World Children's Day. This is a good occasion to let children from all over the world have their say.
30.04.21IGF 2021 Call for Session Proposals
Marlene Fasolt, Stiftung Digitale Chancen
The United Nations Multistakeholder Advisory Group calls for active participation in the programme development for the Internet Governance Forum 2021 (IGF). Stakeholders can submit a variety of types of sessions until 26 May at 23:59 UTC.
05.03.21New youth protection law: PARTICIPATION of children is a top priority
Jutta Croll, Stiftung Digitale Chancen
Today the German Bundestag passed a law to reform youth protection in the media. With the new regulations, the participation of children and adolescents and thus one of the basic principles of the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child is anchored in the German text of law.
08.02.21Our Rights in a Digital World - Report on children’s perspective on their rights in the digital world
Marlene Fasolt, Stiftung Digitale Chancen
The 18. annual Safer Internet day takes place today, 9 February, 2021 under the motto "Together for a better Internet". In addition, many young people were asked about their opinions in the report "Our Rights in a Digital World."
04.02.21We celebrate: Children's rights take effect also in the digital world!
Children around the world have a reason to celebrate today, as the United Nations Children's Committee has adopted a General Comment on the rights of children in the digital environment. This means that all the rights granted to children by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child also apply in the digital space. Access to the internet, freedom of information and expression, but also children's privacy and the right to protection from violence and abuse must be more strongly respected on the internet in the future.
Scientific studies
Looking forward: Technological and social change in the lives of European children and young people
Report for the ICT Coalition for Children Online
Blum-Ross, A., Donoso, V., Dinh, T., Mascheroni, G., O’Neill, B., Riesmeyer, C., and Stoilova, M. (2018)., ICT Coalition
The Members of the ICT Coalition for Children Online have recently commissioned a new report on how relationships between technology and the cultural and social practices and institutions that affect children and young people will likely evolve.
August 2018Young Children (0-8) and Digital Technology
A qualitative study across Europe
Stephane Chaudron, Rosanna Di Gioia, Monica Gemo, EU Science Hub - The European Commission's science and knowledge service
The document reports on results of a cross-national analysis building on data coming from 234 family interviews with both children and parents, carried out from September 2014 until April 2017 in 21 countries.
Additional content for: Digital Parenting | Media Education | Digital Literacy | Media Usage | Privacy | Social Media
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May 2017Children´s and young people´s rights in the digital age
a series of articles in the SAGE journal; Vol 19, Issue 5, 2017
SAGE Journal, SAGE Journal
In Vol 19, Issue 5, 2017 of the SAGE Journal in the New Media & Society category, there are a number of contributions to children's rights in the digital age.
Additional content for: Accessibility | Digital Parenting | Vulnerable Children | Internet Governance | Internet Policy | Youth Protection | Media Education | Media Usage | Privacy | Sexting | Social Media | UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
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Global Kids Online
Researching on children's rights in the digital age
UNICEF Office of Research-Innocenti, London School of Economics and Political Science
Global Kids Online is an international research project that aims to generate and sustain a rigorous cross-national evidence base around children’s use of the internet by creating a global network of researchers and experts.
Official documents
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN-CRC) - full text
UN-Committee on the Rights of the Child, Vereinte Nationen
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989, entry into force 2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49
EU Strategy on the Right’s of the Child - Fact Sheet
The European Commission has developed a new strategy to protect children’s rights
EU Strategy on the Right’s of the Child
The European Commission has developed a new strategy to protect children’s rights.
March 2021General Comment No. 25 (2021) on Children’s Rights in Relation to the Digital Environment
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has published a General Comment on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment.
Explanatory Notes on the General Comment No. 25 (2021) on Children’s Rights in Relation to the Digital Environment
Explanatory Notes on the General Comment No. 25 (2021) on Children’s Rights in Relation to the Digital Environment.
General comment draft on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment
by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
The Committee on the Rights of the Child is currently drafting a general comment on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment. The draft of the general comment can be found here.
White Paper on Online Harms
britische Regierung, Staatssekretär für Digital, Kultur, Medien und Sport
Guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment
Council of Europe, Europarat
The guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment were adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 4 July 2018. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist states and other relevant stakeholders in their efforts to adopt a comprehensive, strategic approach in building and containing the often complex world of the digital environment.
Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers on the rights of the child in the digital environment
Council of Europe, Europarat
How to better respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment is at the core of the new Recommendation adopted today by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. Building on international and European legal instruments, the text provides comprehensive guidelines for action by European governments. The digital environment shapes children’s lives in many ways, creating opportunities and risks to their well-being and enjoyment of human rights. Governments are recommended to review their legislation, policies and practices to ensure that these adequately address the full range of the rights of the child. States should also ensure that business enterprises and other key partners meet their human rights responsibilities and are held accountable in case of abuses.
Additional content for: Internet Governance | Internet Policy | UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
continue reading- May 1996
European Social Charter (revised)
Covention No. 163; Strasbourg
Council of Europe, Europarat
The European Social Charter (revised) of 1996 embodies in one instrument all rights guaranteed by the Charter of 1961, its additional Protocol of 1988 (ETS No. 128) and adds new rights and amendments adopted by the Parties. It is gradually replacing the initial 1961 treaty.
