What we are doing to create a better internet...
At ITU, we are dedicated to safeguarding children's rights and well-being in the digital environment. In an era of rapid technological change, including the rise of AI, we recognize both the opportunities and challenges these advancements bring to child protection. ITU remains at the forefront of global efforts, leveraging partnerships and innovation to create a safer online environment. Through our Global Programme (2021-2025), we take a holistic approach that integrates capacity building, national policy support, and international collaboration. Key milestones include the establishment of National Child Taskforces, empowering children to contribute to policies that shape their digital experiences. Our latest initiatives include the Protection through Online Participation (PoP) partnership which focuses on children's access to protection through online means - combining both participation and protection in one effort. The collaboration brings together more than 30 partners from all relevant sectors to collect data and provide evidence-based recommendations.
In further detail:
- Our child online protection global programme
While significant progress has been made, challenges remain. Strengthening collaboration and collective action is essential to ensuring a safer, more inclusive, and empowering digital space for all children.
After the launch of the newly revised Child Online Protection (COP) Guidelines released in collaboration with key COP partners (governments, industry leaders, civil society, the educational sector, and children and their families), ITU with the support of the National Cyber Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is in the process of implementing the guidelines worldwide.
With a focus on capacity building, policy advice, and child participation, the guidelines are a comprehensive set of recommendations for all relevant stakeholders on how to contribute to the development of a safe and empowering online environment for children and young people. The implementation of these guidelines has taken shape as trainings developed for a variety of stakeholders, from policy-makers, educators of all kinds, parents, and children themselves. Some of these trainings are also available in self-paced modules on the ITU Academy website linked below. Furthermore, ITU member states are being supported in assessing, improving or developing their national frameworks on child online protection.
- Our engaging digital resources for children
The COP guidelines for children are adapted to different age groups and have been developed in a child-friendly format (a storybook for children under 9 years old, a workbook for children aged 9 to12 and a social media campaign for young people aged 13 to 18 years). Helping children to learn how to manage risks online, while empowering them to exercise their rights online and offline, they support children to engage in opportunities that the internet offers.
With a focus on capacity building and awareness-raising for all relevant stakeholder groups, the GOP Global Program completed the first season of Online Safety with Sango in 2022 for young children (under 9 years of age) and released an interactive training program for children of different age groups. Additionally, a mobile app for teenagers, and an online game for younger children (aged 9 to 12) were published to empower children about media literacy and online resilience.
- The protection through online participation (POP) partnership
The POP working group was established in collaboration with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, and partners from other UN offices, NGOs and the ICT sector. Launched at SID 2022, the partnership aims to develop an evidence base to better understand how online means are helping enhance child protection systems, make the relevant data available and share recommendations for relevant stakeholders to improve access to support and referral services through online means.
- Child online protection and sports
ITU in partnership with the Scort Foundation published a policy brief (linked below) about COP in sports. Geared toward sports organizations at the grassroots and professional levels, this brief provides clear recommendations on how to address online risks and tackle violence against children and promotes safe uses of digital tools and services. Since then, different capacity building activities have been undertaken to raise awareness and train educators in the sports sector.
About us
Protecting children online: A global commitment
In an increasingly digital world, ensuring children's safety online is a shared responsibility. While many initiatives exist to enhance child online protection, most efforts have been national rather than global. A coordinated, worldwide approach is essential to tackle the evolving risks children face in cyberspace.
As the UN agency for digital technologies, ITU is committed to fostering a safer online environment. Guided by Resolutions 179 (Bucharest, 2022) and 67 (Kigali, 2022), ITU launched the Child Online Protection (COP) Initiative—a global, multi-stakeholder effort dedicated to safeguarding children in the digital space.
Since its launch in 2008 under the Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA), COP has united governments, industry leaders, international organizations, and civil society to create a safer, more inclusive, and empowering online experience for children worldwide. Endorsed by the UN Secretary-General and world leaders, COP provides concrete tools and guidance to address emerging threats.
ITU’s COP Initiative focuses on:
- Identifying risks and vulnerabilities children face online.
- Raising awareness among parents, educators, and policymakers.
- Developing practical tools to mitigate digital threats.
- Facilitating knowledge-sharing and international cooperation.
Through collaboration and innovation, ITU works to ensure that every child can explore the digital world safely, securely, and with confidence.
What we are doing to create a better internet...
At ITU, we are dedicated to safeguarding children's rights and well-being in the digital environment. In an era of rapid technological change, including the rise of AI, we recognize both the opportunities and challenges these advancements bring to child protection. ITU remains at the forefront of global efforts, leveraging partnerships and innovation to create a safer online environment. Through our Global Programme (2021-2025), we take a holistic approach that integrates capacity building, national policy support, and international collaboration. Key milestones include the establishment of National Child Taskforces, empowering children to contribute to policies that shape their digital experiences. Our latest initiatives include the Protection through Online Participation (PoP) partnership which focuses on children's access to protection through online means - combining both participation and protection in one effort. The collaboration brings together more than 30 partners from all relevant sectors to collect data and provide evidence-based recommendations.
In further detail:
- Our child online protection global programme
While significant progress has been made, challenges remain. Strengthening collaboration and collective action is essential to ensuring a safer, more inclusive, and empowering digital space for all children.
After the launch of the newly revised Child Online Protection (COP) Guidelines released in collaboration with key COP partners (governments, industry leaders, civil society, the educational sector, and children and their families), ITU with the support of the National Cyber Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is in the process of implementing the guidelines worldwide.
With a focus on capacity building, policy advice, and child participation, the guidelines are a comprehensive set of recommendations for all relevant stakeholders on how to contribute to the development of a safe and empowering online environment for children and young people. The implementation of these guidelines has taken shape as trainings developed for a variety of stakeholders, from policy-makers, educators of all kinds, parents, and children themselves. Some of these trainings are also available in self-paced modules on the ITU Academy website linked below. Furthermore, ITU member states are being supported in assessing, improving or developing their national frameworks on child online protection.
- Our engaging digital resources for children
The COP guidelines for children are adapted to different age groups and have been developed in a child-friendly format (a storybook for children under 9 years old, a workbook for children aged 9 to12 and a social media campaign for young people aged 13 to 18 years). Helping children to learn how to manage risks online, while empowering them to exercise their rights online and offline, they support children to engage in opportunities that the internet offers.
With a focus on capacity building and awareness-raising for all relevant stakeholder groups, the GOP Global Program completed the first season of Online Safety with Sango in 2022 for young children (under 9 years of age) and released an interactive training program for children of different age groups. Additionally, a mobile app for teenagers, and an online game for younger children (aged 9 to 12) were published to empower children about media literacy and online resilience.
- The protection through online participation (POP) partnership
The POP working group was established in collaboration with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, and partners from other UN offices, NGOs and the ICT sector. Launched at SID 2022, the partnership aims to develop an evidence base to better understand how online means are helping enhance child protection systems, make the relevant data available and share recommendations for relevant stakeholders to improve access to support and referral services through online means.
- Child online protection and sports
ITU in partnership with the Scort Foundation published a policy brief (linked below) about COP in sports. Geared toward sports organizations at the grassroots and professional levels, this brief provides clear recommendations on how to address online risks and tackle violence against children and promotes safe uses of digital tools and services. Since then, different capacity building activities have been undertaken to raise awareness and train educators in the sports sector.
About us
Protecting children online: A global commitment
In an increasingly digital world, ensuring children's safety online is a shared responsibility. While many initiatives exist to enhance child online protection, most efforts have been national rather than global. A coordinated, worldwide approach is essential to tackle the evolving risks children face in cyberspace.
As the UN agency for digital technologies, ITU is committed to fostering a safer online environment. Guided by Resolutions 179 (Bucharest, 2022) and 67 (Kigali, 2022), ITU launched the Child Online Protection (COP) Initiative—a global, multi-stakeholder effort dedicated to safeguarding children in the digital space.
Since its launch in 2008 under the Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA), COP has united governments, industry leaders, international organizations, and civil society to create a safer, more inclusive, and empowering online experience for children worldwide. Endorsed by the UN Secretary-General and world leaders, COP provides concrete tools and guidance to address emerging threats.
ITU’s COP Initiative focuses on:
- Identifying risks and vulnerabilities children face online.
- Raising awareness among parents, educators, and policymakers.
- Developing practical tools to mitigate digital threats.
- Facilitating knowledge-sharing and international cooperation.
Through collaboration and innovation, ITU works to ensure that every child can explore the digital world safely, securely, and with confidence.
