FOCUS
Children with disabilities
The digital environment opens new avenues for children with disabilities to engage in social relationships with their peers, access information and participate in public decision-making processes.
Therefore it is necessary to take steps to prevent the creation of new barriers and to remove existing barriers faced by children with disabilities in relation to the digital environment.
Focus
-
04.04.23
IGF 2023 Call for Session Proposals
Marlene Fasolt, SDC
Stakeholders are invited to submit proposals to organize various types of sessions at the Internet Governance Forum until May 19, 2023 at 23:59 UTC
-
20.12.22
In the rearview mirror: a children’s rights perspective on the sessions of the IGF 2022 on YouTube
Marlene Fasolt, SDC
The 17th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was hosted by the Government of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa in a hybrid format from 28 November to 2 December 2022. All the sessions were recorded and uploaded on the IGF’s YouTube channel and we have uploaded daily reports on the sessions that relate to growing up in the digital environment. Following are the links to all the sessions that we reported on.
-
21.04.22
Call for participation in the programme of the IGF 2022
Pauline Richter, Stiftung Digitale Chancen
A call for active participation in the programme development of the Internet Governance Forum 2022 (IGF) has been issued again this year. Stakeholders can submit session proposals until 10 June 2022.
Scientific studies
-
4. BIK Policy Map
The Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Map was created to compare and exchange knowledge on policy making and implementation in EU Member States on the themes and recommendations of the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children. The fourth report of the series was released in May 2023.
-
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.
-
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
continue reading
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
-
Revision of the EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child (2017)
The guidelines recall international standards on the rights of the child and provide comprehensive guidance as well as concrete ways to promote effectively and protect the rights of the child.
-
African Youth Charter
The African Youth Charter provides a framework for youth empowerment and development activities at the continental, regional and national levels across Africa.
-
The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) is an important tool for advancing children’s rights. While building on the same basic principles as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the ACRWC highlights issues of special importance in the African context.
-
EU Strategy on the Right’s of the Child
The European Commission has developed a new strategy to protect children’s rights.
-
General 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.
-
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