Event Highlights: Safe Digital Futures for Children – Tackling Online Harms Through Joint Global Action

Event Highlights: Safe Digital Futures For Children: Tackling online harms through joint global action

Supporting partners

0 +

Global audience

0 +

Countries

0 +

Attendees in person

Safe Online, the Brave Movement, and the WeProtect Global Alliance, with the support from over 15 partners, hosted the event Safe Digital Futures for Children: Tackling Online Harms through Joint Global Action. The satellite event leveraged and built momentum towards the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children on 7-8 November, 2024

The satellite event held on 6th November 2024 in Bogota, Colombia, highlighted the growing threat of digital harms to children and urged world leaders to integrate the online dimension in the wider agenda and efforts to tackle violence against children. Read more in the Call to Action from survivors and allies.

This event marked a critical step in highlighting the magnitude and complexity of digital harms for children and in amplifying the urgency of ensuring children can benefit from a safe digital world. The insights, dialogues and call to action shared are the building blocks of our collective mission and lay a strong foundation for the ongoing and future work needed to turn conversations into…

...Concrete actions and secure safe digital future for children through

robust legislations

safety by design

children and survivors’ centered efforts

sustainable financing nationally and internationally

Growing recognition of the urgent need to address this rapidly evolving crisis.

High-level representatives from over 10 countries spoke at the Satellite event to highlight their efforts, lessons learned and global needs to make the internet safe for children, and 20 countries submitted pledges on online harms to children at the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children.

Below, you’ll find key moments and materials from the event, including highlights, discussions, and resources to continue the conversation on creating safer digital spaces for children.

Read the event Press Release and a joint open letter ‘A historic opportunity to protect children from digital harms’ to policy-makers from the event co-leads

We stand united at the ‘Safe Digital Futures for Children‘ event in Bogotá, bringing together world leaders, advocates & survivors to tackle online harms against children. As technology evolves, so must our efforts to protect them”, said Marija Manojlovic, Executive Director, Safe Online, kicking off the event.

The Satellite Event

was opened by:

Camilla Waltersson Gronwall, Minister of Social Affairs, Government of Sweden highlighted the urgent need for global collaboration to tackle the rising tide of online child sexual abuse, “To effectively combat online violence, global collaboration is essential. Countries must share best practices, technological solutions & research findings.“

Followed by a High-level

Opening Panel

Youth activists and high-level representatives from Governments, civil society, industry and UN agencies, came together to emphasize the importance of collaboration, prevention, and amplifying youth and survivors’ voices to combat online violence against children.

Abuse thrives in silence. We need to shine a light on it, and that starts by having the conversations. And that leads to creating an environment where children feel able to come and talk to us when they’re concerned, it leads to victims and survivors feeling able to disclose

In 2000, 6% of the world was online. Now it's 66% and rapidly increasing. There's no distinction between online and offline

We must make child safety by design and child privacy by design mandatory before technology is launched

Digital violence manifests in various forms, from cyber-bullying to grooming, where adults manipulate minors through social media. It is essential that we develop clear and effective strategies to ensure our protection in these digital environments

Knowledge is power... information is crucial when working with young people. We need to have lived experience and young people feeding into these initiatives

The panel explored the latest data, trends, and evidence of risks and harms children face in digital spaces covering children’s digital interactions, risk perceptions, mitigation strategies, and the impact of emerging technologies like Gen AI and extended reality.

Reflecting on solutions, the panelists highlighted the importance of data-driven approaches, and the need for collaboration between tech companies and child protection experts to leverage emerging technologies for child safety.

Audiences heard directly from survivors of online child abuse in the film ‘Beyond the Screen: Hidden voices of online abuse. The film highlighted the prevalence of online sexual violence and included the lived experiences of four survivors from around the world. Watch the film here.

1 in 3 children never disclose their abuse because they never know where to go or how to seek help. The responsibility lies on adults

We need to blend protectors & builders. Many of us should look for jobs in tech & have a seat at the table. Create a mesh framework where we operate as a unit of society that can do better for our kids in a tech-forward universe

We cannot afford to wait for the perfect AI solution. It is essential that we merge AI with our expertise in child protection without delay

Child sexual exploitation and abuse is a global pandemic – but we can stop it if we take a prevention-focused, public health approach to the problem. That starts with data so if you're a data holder please get in touch...Children can't wait, we need to be using our data now

Call us in the conversation, we can bring the technical expertise

This panel of experts from the UN, Council of Europe, and Government representatives from Brazil, South Africa and USA, focused on practical strategies and solutions to make digital spaces safer for children. They shared context-rich information and experiences from different countries, highlighting strategies, resources, and best practices for policy development, program design, technology tools, and industry practices. Emphasis was placed on integrating safety features at the outset of digital tools, rather than retrofitting them.

This Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that needs to set a precedent for how the global community addresses and combats child exploitation and abuse of all forms, including in the online world. Governments must listen to the survivor perspective and implement policies which protect children and survivors globally.

There are many important gains, many important policies, but we do need to bridge that generational divide between policymakers and the experiences of children and the lived experience of survivors. So really making sure that policies, and systems and solutions are informed by children and by survivors, I think that's key to going forward

We must confront taboos: first, that sexual violence against children is often perpetrated by their peers, and second, the need for comprehensive sexuality education in our member states. We know peer-to-peer sexual violence is happening, we have to be able to address it and it's still a taboo in many countries

We can influence through funding and awareness-raising, and we also can work to influence both our implementers and private sector, and also collaborate with other governments and other donors

Brazil has adopted a whole-government strategy, inspired by Denmark, to address children's digital device use. We've involved civil society, heard children's voices, and are tackling online child protection head-on

[We're] putting in place the coordinating structure, which ensures that there is coordination of response and services across different key stakeholders within the child protection system

Internet was conceived for adults, we need to rethink the model as children and young people [are] using it the most. It needs to be fundamentally rethought. Voluntary measures are not enough

High-level representatives from Ecuador, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Moldova, Uganda shared diverse strategies: from helplines & specialist training to national plans. The focus was on enhancing safety through legislation, education & open communication with children.

Uganda is the first country in Africa to start a child helpline where cases of child abuse in any form are reported This has really helped us integrate a system where […] any form of abuse is communicated and reported and then we follow up using our security forces or using the ministry of internal affairs

Our aim is to expand our network of child protection specialists, providing them with training and expertise in digital inclusion and multidisciplinary responses to online abuse. We must evolve our capabilities as swiftly as the digital landscape changes

Global collaboration is crucial. In Ecuador, we’re advancing in child protection laws, but our tech isn’t as fast as in other regions. Learning from countries with immediate protection measures is essential for us. Forums like these help us share experiences and address our gaps in technology and AI for child protection

Madagascar has taken steps to create a protective environment, to prevent and respond to violence, including online violence through policy, legislation, governance and coordination measures. This includes a legal framework including a specific law on the fight against cybercrime adopted in 2014 which includes digital representations and applies to acts of grooming, sexting and sexual extortion

We are in the process now to develop a 5-year plan, which is a multi-sectoral national plan of action which tackles family violence and violence against children, and of course violence against women

Let us not hide from our children what they should be told, and instead they go ahead and get them from their phones and the internet

The panel emphasized the urgency of action, the importance of survivor voices, and the need for collaborative efforts across sectors to protect children online. Experts including parent of survivor, donor and tech industry representatives highlighted urgent threats including financial links to child abuse, AI-generated imagery, and exploitation merging with extremism.

We will reach a critical mass of voices crying out for change to make social media platforms safe by design, because education and legislation will only take us so far. Safety by design is what we have to insist on from companies

The terrifying prevalence of online harm can be turned into a transformative and unifying relevance. By centering young people and survivors, we enable everyone to feel they have a stake. This creates a virtuous circle of resource mobilization - as we elevate these voices, we build momentum, deliver wins, and increase appetite for further investment

We cannot let over 300 million children face online abuse each year. As an international community, as individuals, we must triple our efforts to tackle this issue and advance this agenda

Our best chance to respond and to produce innovative public policies and initiatives to respond to online violence against children, is to listen to children. And when I say listen, it’s listen carefully, listen consciously, because do you know who else is listening when you aren’t? Perpetrators.

Online child exploitation is a global crisis. We must demand stronger regulations, safeguards, and transparent practices from tech companies. Crucially, we need to invest in survivors, equipping them with skills to shape policies. Our duty is to protect children and ensure survivor-centered services in handling these cases

We face three urgent emerging threats: the financial component of online child abuse, AI-generated abusive imagery, and the convergence of child exploitation with violent extremism. We must deepen collaboration with the financial industry, ensure comprehensive risk assessment in AI models, and unite against distributed groups grooming children for exploitation and harm

Closing

Remarks

The closing session emphasized the need for financial commitment from governments, courage in facing challenges, love for what we’re protecting, and collaborative action. The three Directors reminded us that creating a safer digital world for children is a complex but crucial task that requires the efforts of all sectors of society.

We need two things: commitments to put money behind this cause, and bravery. As a survivor myself, I learned that being brave means acting boldly despite fear. The challenges are humongous, but it's going to take all of us. Be brave with us as we tackle these issues and make the world safer for kids

This is not an easy problem, but we must embrace its complexity. There are so many opportunities and benefits in the digital world. Let's ensure the Internet is a place where children can learn, socialize, and discover. It requires bravery to face our fears, but also love for what we're protecting

While fear of the unknown and resource limitations are challenges, the voices of our community are powerful. We need more than just political will; we need understanding, collaboration, and action

Key Insights from Interviews with experts:

Shaping a Safer Digital Future for Children

Watch the interviews where experts, survivors, and young activists discuss why online safety must be part of the broader effort to end violence against children. They share their hopes for the Ministerial outcomes and key actions needed to ensure a safer digital future. Hear their perspectives on AI’s role in tackling online child exploitation and what world leaders can do to protect children online.

Media Coverage

0 +

people were reached through media coverage of the Safe Digital Futures event across Colombia, amplifying awareness about online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The Safe Digital Futures event received significant media attention, being featured in El Tiempo, Colombia’s largest national newspaper, as well as prominent digital platforms like Publimetro and Semana. Coverage extended across 30 print and digital outlets. The event also gained widespread visibility on television channels including Caracol, a leading private television network in Colombia, Capital, and City Television, and was extensively covered on radio. News reports included coverage of the press release, joint editorial and interviews with the event’s co-hosts and provided in-depth insights into the pressing issue of online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Colombia.

Overall, the media coverage for the Safe Digital Futures event reached an audience of 15,712,224 people across Colombia, amplifying awareness about online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Social media

The event was actively promoted across multiple social media platforms—LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook—before, during, and after the event. More than 15 partners played a vital role in amplifying the event, with Brave Movement and WeProtect as key partners in promotion. The engagement was further enhanced by the active participation of speakers and ministers.

Event-specific hashtags, #Act4OnlineSafety and #SafeOnline, gained significant traction and global reach:

Total Posts: 933
Maximum Reach: 2.9 million
Impressions: 105,000

These metrics showcase the tremendous impact and engagement of the event across social media platforms. The hashtags helped spark important conversations on online safety, reaching audiences in 39 countries.

The top post on X garnered 46,514 impressions and 1,614 engagements. On LinkedIn, event coverage received 82% more impressions than usual and saw a 107% increase in reactions compared to regular activity.

Captured Memories: A Glimpse into the Event

Safe Digital Futures for Children: Tackling Online Harms Through Joint Global Action

See Here

Moments of Connection - Safe Digital Futures for Children: Tackling Online Harms

See Here

Networking Reception

See Here

Breakfast Meet with media

See Here

Here are some of the videos that summarize the highlights of the event. Help us continue spreading the message! Follow the conversation and share more insights using the hashtags #Act4OnlineSafety

What an incredible gathering at the #Act4OnlineSafety event in Bogotá! We brought together policymakers, practitioners, youth, survivors, and industry leaders to tackle online harms against children.

Watch the highlights and key takeaways👇#SafeOnline @BeBraveGlobal @WeProtect pic.twitter.com/unsXnguPFg
— Safe Online (@SafeOnlineFund) November 15, 2024