Guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment - Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)7 of the Committee of Ministers (2018)
The guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment were adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 4 July 2018. This publication contains the recommendations, addressed to all member states of the Council of Europe, followed by useful, thematically directed sections to guide states on fundamental principles and rights, operational principles and measures to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment, national frameworks and international co-operation and co-ordination.
Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA
The Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 addresses the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, including child pornography. It establishes minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the area of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, child pornography, and solicitation of children for sexual purposes. The Directive aims to strengthen the prevention of these crimes and the protection of victims.
General comment No. 25 (2021) on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment
General Comment No. 25 was issued by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to clarify how the Convention on the Rights of the Child applies in the context of digital technologies. It emphasizes that all children’s rights must be respected, protected, and fulfilled online, recognizing that digital technologies can both enhance and threaten children’s rights, including their rights to education, privacy, protection from harm, and participation General Comment No.
General comment no. 17 (2013) on the right of the child to rest, leisure, play, recreational activities, cultural life and the arts (art. 31)
General Comment No. 17 clarifies the content and scope of Article 31 CRC, which recognises children’s rights to rest and leisure, play and recreation appropriate to their age, and participation in cultural life and the arts. The Committee emphasises that these rights are not merely secondary or recreational interests, but are essential to children’s development, well-being, health, creativity, learning, social relationships and evolving capacities.
General comment no. 12 (2009), The right of the child to be heard
General Comment No. 12 (2009) explains the right of children to be heard under Article 12 CRC. Children have the right to express their views freely in all matters affecting them, and those views must be given due weight according to their age and maturity. The Committee stresses that this should be a meaningful process, not simply an opportunity to consult children. The right to be heard is closely connected to other principles of the CRC, particularly the best interests of the child, non-discrimination and the child’s evolving capacities.
General comment no. 13 (2011), The right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence
General Comment No. 13 (2011) explains how CRC Article 19 should be interpreted and implemented to protect children from all forms of violence. It gives a more detailed legal and practical framework for preventing violence, protecting child victims, and improving state responses under a child rights approach. It emphasizes proactive primary prevention, better care and protection systems, and coordinated implementation rather than reactive or fragmented intervention alone.
Recommendation CM / Rec (2019)10 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on developing and promoting digital citizenship education
Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)10 encourages member states to design and support digital citizenship education (DCE) across formal and informal learning settings. The recommendation structures DCE around three domains—being online, well-being online, and rights online—encompassing ten competency areas from access and inclusion to active participation. It emphasizes helping learners use digital technologies for democratic activities and intercultural dialogue and recommends co-designing learning opportunities with learners themselves for inclusive education.
The case for better governance of children’s data: a manifesto
The Manifesto argues that children’s data require a distinct, child-centred data governance approach because children are more vulnerable than adults and may be less able to understand the long-term consequences of data collection and use. It stresses that children’s data are collected by a wide range of actors, including governments, technology companies, data brokers, schools and parents, and that these data can affect decisions concerning children’s present and future lives.
CM/Rec(2026)4 - Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member States on online safety and empowerment of users and content creators (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 8 April 2026 at the 1556th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)
The Recommendation focus on how to address, through human rights-compliant measures, online risks that result from or affect the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. They aim to guide States in the adoption, implementation and enforcement of policy and legal frameworks, as well as other measures, that address risks to online safety, mitigate risks of harm and foster an enabling online environment that promotes the enjoyment of human rights.
Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the roles and responsibilities of internet intermediaries
This recommendation outlines the obligations of states to protect and promote human rights in the digital environment and the responsibilities of internet intermediaries to respect the internationally recognized human rights of their users and third parties affected by their activities.
It emphasises the need for a human rights and rule of law-based framework that lays out the main obligations of states with respect to the protection and promotion of human rights in the digital environment, and the respective responsibilities of intermediaries.
