To keep children safe online, governments and relevant agencies should:
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Monitor COVID-19 impact on online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) and other forms of Violence against Children; collect data to inform policy development
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Enforce laws and legislations; ensure functioning Law Enforcement (LE) units; train key service providers (health, Child Protection, LE, education) on online risks, skills for early identification and support to child victims and their families, with a special focus on the most vulnerable groups of children
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Actively engage multiple stakeholders, including community and religious leaders, on violence prevention and response
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Track the improvement and accountability of all stakeholders
In addition, media should spread key messages about online opportunities, risks, yearly identification and reporting mechanisms.
THE RESOURCES
Specific to COVID-19
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Technical note: COVID-19 and its implications for protecting children online
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End Violence COVID-19 webpage and social media kit
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WeProtect Global Alliance, Intelligence Brief on COVID-19 impact
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Europol, Response to Online CSEA in the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020
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Council of Europe, protecting and empowering children during Covid-19 webpage
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WHO, Addressing Violence against Children, Women and Older People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Key actions
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UNICEF, Technical Note for Child Helplines and supporting webinar
Existing models and resources
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WeProtect Global Alliance, Global Strategic Response to online CSEA, 2019
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WeProtect Global Alliance, Global Threat Assessment, 2019
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WeProtect Global Alliance, Model of National Response, 2015
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Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, Child Online Safety: Minimizing the risks of violence, abuse and exploitation, 2019
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EUROPOL, Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA), 2019
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Luxemburg Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of CSEA, 2016
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End Violence Safe Online Portfolio directory
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End Violence, Child Online Safety Call for Action, 2019
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ITU, Guidelines for Policy Makers on Child Online Protection, 2020
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eSafety Commissioner’s Global online safety advice for frontline workers supporting women (tech-facilitated abuse, domestic and family violence)
Other
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INSPIRE evidence-based strategies for countries and communities working to eliminate violence against children, 2016
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Know Violence in Childhood Global Report, 2017
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The Economist Intelligence Unit, Out of the Shadows: Shining light on the response to CSEA, 2019
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United Nations University, Digital Divide in the Time of COVID-19
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WHO, Global status report on preventing violence against children, 2020
This collection is part of the End Violence Partnership's technical note, COVID-19 and its Implications for Protecting Children Online.
Pictured above: 4-year-old Margo connects with her family over video chat. © UNICEF/UNI316261/Bajornas
