FOCUS
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
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02.01.21
Call 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.
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17.12.20
Children’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.
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20.11.20
Children’s Rights in Focus
Stiftung Digitale Chancen
Today is International Children's Rights Day, a good opportunity to reflect on the key messages of the Internet Governance Forum 2020 regarding children's rights.
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06.11.20
Children's rights and Internet Governance
Jutta Croll, Stiftung Digitale Chancen
The first phase of the virtual IGF ended on Friday this week. Out of the broad range of pre-events and workshops two sessions highlighted children’s rights and their protection in the digital environment. On Tuesday the British 5Rights Foundation organized the Pre-Event #11 Digital Cooperation and Children’s Rights. On Wednesday the Dynamic Coalition on Child Online Safety held their session on “Lessons learned from the Pandemic: child rights and safety”.
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22.10.20
The virtual Internet Governance Forum 2020 is starting soon
Stiftung Digitale Chancen
On Monday, November 2, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2020 will begin, this year in digital format as a virtual IGF. We have produced a schedule of the sessions addressing aspects of children and youth growing up in a digital environment to make it more convenient for you to take part online.
Scientific studies
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August 2018
Young 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 2017
Children´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
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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
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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.
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January 2016
Terminology 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.
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January 2002
Optional 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).
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October 2019
Guidelines 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.
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White Paper on Online Harms
britische Regierung, Staatssekretär für Digital, Kultur, Medien und Sport
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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.
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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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