Children’s digital rights: overcoming regional inequalities | IGF 2023 WS #501

Event report

Speakers and Moderators

Speakers:

• Waldemar Gonçalves Ortunho Júnio, Government, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
• Alejandra Phillippi Miranda, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
• Sonia Livingstone, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
• Mikiko Otani, Intergovernmental Organization, Asia-Pacific Group

Moderators:

• Maria Góes de Mello, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
• João Coelho, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

Event desciption

Children represent one-third of Internet users. However, because of their special vulnerability, the digital environment can present both opportunities and risks for them. In this regard, national and international efforts have been mobilized to promote a safe and rights-enhancing digital environment, the most important being the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) General Comment No. 25. Nevertheless, the lack of national regulations governing the online environment makes children’s digital experiences highly vulnerable to socio-cultural and economic contexts, particularly with a prevalence of discriminatory processes that disproportionately affect countries in the Global South. The session aims to discuss paths to a safer digital environment for children, regardless of their location. To achieve this, recently approved policies and their potential for global impact will be analyzed, alongside the remaining obstacles that need to be addressed for effective regulation, especially in countries of the Global South, taking into account, especially, the application of General Comment No. 25 in Latin America.