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Right to Privacy and Data Protection
Offline and online, no child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation. (UN-CRC Art. 16) For instance, the online publication of a picture without consent of the child depicted can be a violation of this right. The protection of the private sphere can, in the course of digitisation, only be achieved through adequate data protection on the internet and in social networks. It is necessary to guarantee that personal data, like name, address and phone number, are not collected or transferred to third parties without consent.
The child has a right to legal protection against any interference or violation of these rights. (UN-CRC Art.16)
Users need to be empowered for the execution of these rights and for self-protection, in order to be able to live a self-determined and confident life in the digital world.
Focus
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
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.
02.01.21Call for Issues for the Internet Governance Forum 2021
Stiftung Digitale Chancen
All stakeholders are invited to share Internet governance issues of priority that could shape the IGF 2021 thematic focus.
17.12.20Children’s rights in the digital environment
Marlene Fasolt, Stiftung Digitale Chancen
The Council of Europe's Guidelines on the Rights of the Child in the digital environment have been published in child-friendly English and German language.
Scientific studies
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
EU Strategy on the Right’s of the Child
The European Commission has developed a new strategy to protect children’s rights.
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
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.
January 2016Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
ECPAT International, ECPAT Germany
The Terminology Guidelines provide guidance for the understanding and use of terms and concepts for individuals and agencies working for the prevention and elimination of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.
January 2002Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
The Optional Protocol is a supplement to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and obliges all signatory parties to prohibit the sale of children, child prostitution and depiction of sexual abuse of children (so-called child pornography).
October 2019Guidelines for the Implementation of the Optional Protocol CRC/C/156
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
The Guidelines adapt the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol to today's (digital) environment.
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
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Factsheet on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
European Commission, Europäische Kommission
The European Commission has worked out a fact sheet on the EU Data Protection Reform, which will take effect from 25 May 2018.
Additional content for: Age Threshold | Internet Policy | Youth Protection | Consumer Protection
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