About our SID activities
Safeguarding and promoting the rights of the child in the digital environment and keeping them safe online are at the heart of our work. The right to access and safe use of technologies remains one of the key priorities of our current Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022–2027).
One of the pressing risks children face online is growing exposure to online pornographic content, much of which reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and gender-based violence, including sexual abuse. The consequences are wide-ranging and can negatively affect children’s mental health, self-esteem and behaviour. To support member states in addressing these risks, a Thematic guidance note on safeguarding children from the risks of accessing online pornography has been prepared. It complements a Feasibility study on age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education and Study on sexual violence and harmful sexual behaviour displayed by children, together forming the basis for drafting a Recommendation on age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education aimed at strengthening prevention efforts and protecting children from violence.
To help young learners thrive in the digital age and become responsible digital citizens, the Education Department develops learning tools and resources for educators, parents and policy makers. As part of the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education 2025, the Department released the 4th episode of the Digi-Nauts series on privacy and security for children of up to 11 years old and the MOOC on “Understanding Digital Citizenship” for teachers and parents.
DCE Planner, is a practical tool for integrating digital citizenship education (DCE) into curricula for learners aged 5-18. Covering 10 domains and 320 learning outcomes, it supports teachers, school leaders, educators, and policymakers. Available in nine languages, the DCE Planner is currently being piloted in several member states.
What we are doing to create a better internet...
We are strongly committed to upholding children’s rights in the digital environment and keeping them safe online. As social media plays an increasingly central role in children’s lives, bringing both opportunities and risks, this year we are focusing on its impact on children’s well-being. On 4 June, the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF) in co-operation with the Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO), will organise a thematic dialogue (Strasbourg and online) to explore how social media affects children’s mental health and discuss possible responses from a child rights perspective.
Our commitment to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse are supported by various key instruments, including the Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention), and Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), as well as bilateral projects. The Lanzarote Committee (Committee of the Parties to the Lanzarote Convention) addressed the online dimension of child sexual exploitation and abuse in early years, by adopting three Opinions on Solicitation of children for sexual purposes through information and communication technologies (ICTs), on the applicability of the Lanzarote Convention to sexual offences against children facilitated by ICTs and on child sexually suggestive or explicit images and/or videos generated, shared and received by children.
The issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse facilitated by emerging technologies was also addressed through a Declaration by the Lanzarote Committee in November 2024, the 2024 edition of our annual awareness raising Day (18 November) for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, and the Final Declaration of the Informal Conference of Ministers on 1 July 2025.
Through our country specific projects Combating violence against children in Georgia and Ensuring an effective framework for the protection of children from all forms of violence and ensure child-friendly justice in the Republic of Moldova, we are raising awareness on the risks of online child sexual exploitation and abuse, and promoting digital literacy and safe use of internet for children in these countries.
About us
The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. The Council of Europe protects the human rights of children in the digital environment by mainstreaming children’s rights into all aspects of its work, and by ensuring that a range of priority actions are implemented in order to ensure the participation and protection of children in the digital environment as well as by making provision for children’s rights in the digital environment in its 46 member states and beyond.
Like with the previous Council of Europe strategy for the rights of the child (2016-2021), children’s rights in the digital environment are among key strategic objectives of our current strategy for the rights of the child (2022-2027).The Council of Europe aims to empower all children and young people in becoming active digital citizens, so that they can participate safely, effectively, critically and responsibly in the complex world of the digital environment, including social media.
Additional links / resources
About our SID activities
Safeguarding and promoting the rights of the child in the digital environment and keeping them safe online are at the heart of our work. The right to access and safe use of technologies remains one of the key priorities of our current Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022–2027).
One of the pressing risks children face online is growing exposure to online pornographic content, much of which reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and gender-based violence, including sexual abuse. The consequences are wide-ranging and can negatively affect children’s mental health, self-esteem and behaviour. To support member states in addressing these risks, a Thematic guidance note on safeguarding children from the risks of accessing online pornography has been prepared. It complements a Feasibility study on age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education and Study on sexual violence and harmful sexual behaviour displayed by children, together forming the basis for drafting a Recommendation on age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education aimed at strengthening prevention efforts and protecting children from violence.
To help young learners thrive in the digital age and become responsible digital citizens, the Education Department develops learning tools and resources for educators, parents and policy makers. As part of the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education 2025, the Department released the 4th episode of the Digi-Nauts series on privacy and security for children of up to 11 years old and the MOOC on “Understanding Digital Citizenship” for teachers and parents.
DCE Planner, is a practical tool for integrating digital citizenship education (DCE) into curricula for learners aged 5-18. Covering 10 domains and 320 learning outcomes, it supports teachers, school leaders, educators, and policymakers. Available in nine languages, the DCE Planner is currently being piloted in several member states.
What we are doing to create a better internet...
We are strongly committed to upholding children’s rights in the digital environment and keeping them safe online. As social media plays an increasingly central role in children’s lives, bringing both opportunities and risks, this year we are focusing on its impact on children’s well-being. On 4 June, the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF) in co-operation with the Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO), will organise a thematic dialogue (Strasbourg and online) to explore how social media affects children’s mental health and discuss possible responses from a child rights perspective.
Our commitment to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse are supported by various key instruments, including the Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention), and Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), as well as bilateral projects. The Lanzarote Committee (Committee of the Parties to the Lanzarote Convention) addressed the online dimension of child sexual exploitation and abuse in early years, by adopting three Opinions on Solicitation of children for sexual purposes through information and communication technologies (ICTs), on the applicability of the Lanzarote Convention to sexual offences against children facilitated by ICTs and on child sexually suggestive or explicit images and/or videos generated, shared and received by children.
The issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse facilitated by emerging technologies was also addressed through a Declaration by the Lanzarote Committee in November 2024, the 2024 edition of our annual awareness raising Day (18 November) for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, and the Final Declaration of the Informal Conference of Ministers on 1 July 2025.
Through our country specific projects Combating violence against children in Georgia and Ensuring an effective framework for the protection of children from all forms of violence and ensure child-friendly justice in the Republic of Moldova, we are raising awareness on the risks of online child sexual exploitation and abuse, and promoting digital literacy and safe use of internet for children in these countries.
About us
The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. The Council of Europe protects the human rights of children in the digital environment by mainstreaming children’s rights into all aspects of its work, and by ensuring that a range of priority actions are implemented in order to ensure the participation and protection of children in the digital environment as well as by making provision for children’s rights in the digital environment in its 46 member states and beyond.
Like with the previous Council of Europe strategy for the rights of the child (2016-2021), children’s rights in the digital environment are among key strategic objectives of our current strategy for the rights of the child (2022-2027).The Council of Europe aims to empower all children and young people in becoming active digital citizens, so that they can participate safely, effectively, critically and responsibly in the complex world of the digital environment, including social media.
Additional links / resources
