Forum to protect children's rights in digital environment

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) is set to hold the third national forum on protecting children's rights in the secure digital environment and exploring challenges, as well as prospects of children's empowerment and protection on Sept 10-11.

The forum is held in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and National Cyber Security Agency with the participation of Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Representative of the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) and Head of Programmes, Partnerships, and Operations in Qatar.

The event aims to offer perspectives to enhance public legislation and policies, along with the relevant administrative measures and practices related to protecting and empowering children in digital space based on human rights approach.

To mark this event, HE the Chairperson of NHRC Maryam bint Abdullah al-Attiyah, said the topic of protecting children's rights in digital space earns an utmost significance owing to the opportunities it offers to advance children's capabilities in a multitude of fields, in addition to considering the risks and challenges entangled with digital space.

Through this forum NHRC is determined to build a platform for national dialogue between ministries, public institutions, civil society, parents, and children on developments and challenges facing children's rights in digital environment, in addition to reviewing public legislation and measures, as well as relevant administrative measures and practices related to protecting and empowering children in digital space, HE al-Attiyah underlined.

She added that the forum intends to explore best practices in the state and at regional and global levels, in addition to bolstering the measures related to children's protection in digital space, in terms of Islamic values and national identity and raising awareness of the significance of enabling children's accessibility to digital world and protecting them from potential risks.

She pointed out that the UN gave foremost priority to children's rights through developing relevant protection criteria, noting that after the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) came into force in 1990, two optional protocols had been adopted in 2000, the first one was on protecting children from sale and exploitation, and the second one on prohibiting their engagement in armed conflict. The two protocols entered into force in 2002, she said.

HE al-Attiyah highlighted that in 2011, the third optional protocol on individual communications, attached to CRC entered into force.

Pertaining to the national context, HE the Chairperson of NHRC affirmed that Qatar has offered a vital space to empower and protect children's rights, in terms of the constitution and law, and accordingly adopted an array of legislation relevant to protecting children's rights, including Law No 14 of 2014, combating cybercrimes and protecting children from exploitation.

She underlined that the Qatar National Vision 2030 aims to ensure protection for children's rights through offering a secure and healthy environment for children to ensure they receive high quality education and healthcare, as well as other rights and services. She highlighted that in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the vision included numerous objectives on empowering children in digital space.

HE the Chairperson of NHRC said that the forum is expected to come up with a plethora of recommendations and perspectives to a variety of national entities operating in the area of protecting children's rights in digital space, in addition to dedicating a section at NHRC specialised in AI and digital rights based on the forum's perspectives.

In addition, the forum constitutes a chance to highlight Qatar's efforts in protecting children's rights through nurturing the engagement of Qatar in the upcoming discussion before UPR and CRC.