Guidelines for Policy Makers on Child Online Protection

Wider and more easily available access to the internet and mobile technology provides not only many opportunities for children’s development, but also significant challenges to children’s safety. These guidelines for policy makers will help individual countries plan their strategies for child online protection in the short, medium and longer term. In order to formulate a national strategy focusing on online child safety, policy makers need to consider a range of strategies, including establishing a legal framework; developing law enforcement capabilities; putting in place appropriate resources and reporting mechanisms; and providing education and awareness resources.

These guidelines provide background information on risks to children online as well as internationally accepted methods of combating child abuse in the digital world. In order to aid policy makers in further achieving protection for children online, a ‘National Checklist’ is provided.