Unicef India, Facebook launch initiative on children safety

The partnership will include a social media campaign for 1,00,000 schoolchildren on online safety, digital literacy and psychosocial support, Unicef India said

Unicef India and Facebook launched a one-year initiative on Monday to end violence against children. The joint initiative will specially focus on online safety.

Unicef said in a statement that the partnership seeks to create a safe environment for children online and offline. It aims to improve children’s resilience and capacity to access the digital world safely, increase awareness on violence against children and its impact on children, families and communities, as well as enhance skills of communities and frontline workers to better prevent and respond to violence.

The partnership will include a nationwide social media campaign and capacity building for 1,00,000 schoolchildren on online safety, digital literacy and psychosocial support, it said.

The virtual launch of the initiative was attended by Joint Secretary of Ministry of Women and Child Development Aastha Saxena Khatwani, Facebook Head of Programmes and Outreach Madhu Sirohi, and Unicef India Deputy Representative Programmes Yasumasa Kimura.

Khatwani said: In the last year-and-a-half, the internet has enabled children to continue with their education, removing the barriers of time and geography. As we encourage children to explore the great knowledge resource available online, we should be cognisant of the threats that come along with the all-pervasive nature of these online mediums.

Kimura said: The Covid-19 pandemic has increased chances for children to face violence — whether online or offline. Acknowledging the significant efforts being made to end violence against children, it’s important that different stakeholders come together, to increase awareness, change behaviours and perceptions around how, when and where violence against children occurs.

This is critical to promote better understanding of the violence and most effective ways to ensure child safety both online and offline, he said.