GENEVA – The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) will be the international platform for coordinating and developing common codes of conduct and recommendations to protect children on-line.
The recommendation was made at the Strategic Dialogue on Safer Internet Environment for Children, held in Tokyo, Japan earlier this month, where the ITU and various UN agencies reviewed draft guidelines on Child Online Protection.
The initiative was developed by ITU along with UN agencies and other partners as part of ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda which aims to tackle cybersecurity holistically.
The discussions examined the dimensions of child e-safety, including the tools presently available to reduce risks – such as filtering services and parental controls, educational and awareness initiatives plus recommendations and key activities which could be undertaken in this area.
Comments on the draft guidelines on Child Online Protection can be made through June 30, 2009. The final guidelines will be presented at ITU Telecom World 2009 which will be held in Geneva, from October 5-9.
