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Violence against children
The digital environment may open up new ways to perpetrate violence against children, by facilitating situations in which children experience violence and/or may be influenced to do harm to themselves or others.
Crises, such as pandemics, may lead to an increased risk of harm online, given that children spend more time on virtual platforms in those circumstances.
Focus
21.10.21Internet Governance Forum 2021: Children's Rights in the Digital Environment again in the Focus
Stiftung Digitale Chancen
From December 6th to 10th, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2021 will take place as a hybrid event. It will be hosted by the Government of Poland, which invites participants to join the event either on-site in Katowice or digitally via Zoom.
The theme of this year's IGF is "Internet United".
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.
21.06.21The European Digital Services Act must deliver for children
5Rights Foundation, Stiftung Digitale Chancen
We must choose to build a digital world that supports and empowers young people and upholds their rights. The Digital Services Act represents a singular opportunity to ensure that children’s rights are respected, embedded, and upheld online. 5Rights Foundation calls upon the European Parliament and Council of Ministers to include a children’s clause in the Digital Services Act
02.05.21More protection, provision, and participation for children on the Internet
Stiftung Digitale Chancen
The new Youth Protection Act came into effect in Germany on May 1, 2021.
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.
Towards a global indicator. On unidentified victims in child sexual exploitation material. Technical Report.
ECPAT International and INTERPOL, ECPAT International und INTERPOL
This report presents the results of a two-part analysis of the multi-country data set contained in the International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) Database housed at INTERPOL and of consultations with law enforcement personnel in relation to the identification of victims and offenders pictured in Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) seized by law enforcement around the world.
The Intelligent Risk Management Model
Centre for Child Protection on the Internet, I-KiZ - Zentrum für Kinderschutz im Internet
Based on the findings of the HBI, the I-KiZ works with an Intelligent Risk Management model for youth media protection. The model consists of an age-related concept designed both to avoid confronting children with harmful content and contacts, and to promote strategies to counter and deal with the same.
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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Official documents
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN-CRC)
General Assembly of the United Nations, Vereinte Nationen
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN-CRC) is the most important human rights instrument for children. It was passed on November 20th, 1989, by the General Assembly of the United Nations. It is the most ratified UN-Convention - every member state has signed it, except for the United States. The Federal Republic of Germany signed it on January 26th, 1990, and it came into effect on April 5th, 1992. The rights of children were written down in 54 articles, and oblige the state to their implementation, that is, to respect, protect and fulfill them.
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.
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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The Declaration of Rome
Pontificia Universita Gregoriana; World Congress: Child Dignity in the Digital World
From 3rd to 6th of October 2017 the Child Dignity World Congress took place at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Among the 30 speakers at the congress was Jutta Croll, representing the project „Children’s Rights and Child protection“ at Stiftung Digitale Chancen. In a concluding audience the „Declaration of Rome“ was presented to Pope Francis by the congress participants, appealing governments, industry and the civil society to stand up for the protection of the rights and the dignity of children.
- March 2016
Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021)
Council of Europe
Since launching the Programme "Building a Europe for and with children", in Monaco in 2006, the Council of Europe has implemented strategies over a series of policy cycles to guide its work on children’s rights.
- May 2011
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
Convention No. 210; Istanbul
Council of Europe
This new landmark treaty of the Council of Europe opens the path for creating a legal framework at pan-European level to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence. The definition of “women” includes girls under the age of 18.
- October 2007
Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
Convention No. 201; Lanzarote
Council of Europe, Europarat
This Convention is the first instrument to establish the various forms of sexual abuse of children as criminal offences, including such abuse committed in the home or family, with the use of force, coercion or threats.
