As part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s efforts to protect children in Cyberspace, a strategic partnership was signed on Sunday with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs, at the agency’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Protecting Children in Cyberspace initiative, which aims to protect children online from the increased exposure to such attacks, was announced in February at the International Cybersecurity Forum.
The agreement will focus on three pillars: developing best practices, policies, and programs to protect children against cyber threats; developing the cybersecurity skills children need to protect themselves online; and enhancing the discussions aimed at systematically protecting children in cyberspace.
Over 50 international agencies took part in developing the protection program that has been translated to over 20 languages by providing no less than 50 global training programs offered in the UN’s official languages of Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
More than 500 open consultation sessions will be held to follow up on the program's implementation. Trainers around the world will be advised on how to implement guidance and develop mobile apps and entertaining educational games that would contribute to achieving the scheme's aims.
The program will support countries in evaluating, developing and improving relevant policies, launching awareness campaigns, enriching discussions on child protection in developing nations, and establishing task forces to help countries set up child protection programs.
