Children and young people draft a position paper on online safety
“We identified in our discussions that there is a need for greater online safety for us in Nepal.. We do not feel safe when we are online because someone may just send something or write something that we do not like”, says a position paper on online safety written by children and youth in Nepal. This International Youth Day, we see young people take the lead in advocating for a safer online environment in the nation. They are doing this by submitting a position paper drafted by them.
What is the children’s position paper?
The children’s position paper is an advocacy document written by children and youth advocates of Nepal. This paper covers how the children and youth see their situation online and their vision for online safety in the country. It also contains point-wise recommendations by children and youth to the government and internet service providers to enable a safer online environment.
Why was the position paper created?
In Nepal, online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) is a major concern. As per a factsheet shared by the Cyber Bureau in the period of mid-June 2023 to mid-July 2024, the police registered a total of 17,552 cases of cybercrime from all over Nepal. Of the total cases, 487 were children (191 were of boys and 296 were of girls). With the number of children using the internet rising by the day, working out solutions to stop OCSE is the need of the hour.
How was the position paper created?
As part of Terre des Hommes Netherlands’ Safety for Children and their Rights OnLine or SCROL programme in Nepal, 18 school-going children and young people from Bagmati Province (8 girls & 10 boys) and 26 Children (15 girls & 11 boys) from Gandaki province took part in 2 consultations in April. In these consultations, the children came together and discussed their perspectives, visions and recommendations.
The children and young people belong to diverse ethnic communities and are at risk of online child sexual exploitation.
How will the position paper be disseminated?
Under SCROL’s advocacy to include addressing OCSE in the 16th National Plan of Action in Nepal, the position paper was shared with representatives from the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Ministry of Communication Information and Technology, National Curriculum Development Center, Nepal Police Cyber Bureau, National Human Rights Commission, National Child Rights Council along with the Internet Service Providers Association Nepal and children. Starting the month of August, the paper will further reach other government representatives and internet service providers.
“We are thrilled to see the outcomes of the position paper presented by our children, and the response from the stakeholders. We are sure that this will move towards framing suitable policy frameworks in protecting children online”, said Thangaperumal Ponpandi, Country Director, Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Nepal.
(In the picture is a government representative with the position paper at a consultation meeting)
