Tirana, 6th October 2015– Today, National Agency for Cyber Security (ALCIRT), UNICEF, CRCA Albania and the State Agency for the Protection of Children’s Rights held the first consultative meeting “Safe Internet for Children in Albania: Towards Integrated Institutional and Social Approaches for the Online Protection of Children in Albania”.
The purpose of the meeting was to consult with relevent partners about mechanisms and necessary tools to protect children from online abuse and exploitation, also to encourage the responsible institutions to establish the appropriate legal framework. Part of the discussion focused on governmental institutions and their care of children, The Ombudsman, the Commissioner for the Protection from Discrimination, the Commissioner of Personal Data Protection, civil society organization and telephone companies.
Discussions focused on finding integrated institutional and social approaches and for the protection of children from online abuse and exploitation; presentation of the problems facing children in Albania about safety on the internet; recognition of plans and commitments of social partners in this field as well as the respective colaborations. At the meeting a virtual platform for reporting websites with illegal content was also discussed.
The participants agreed to establish a mechanism at national level for reporting online abuse and cases of exploitation and other cyber crimes that affect the interests of special groups. During discussions it was also recommended the establishment of a national information platform, which, will provide access to children, parents, teachers, interested groups, etc, to be aware and inform about security, risks and ways to protect children form online exploitation and abuse.
Strengthening of inter-institutional dialogue and improving the legal framework were two of the most important recommendations of the meeting. Achieving these goals will bring expansion of the involved mechanisms on online child security, clear definition of the duties for each actor as well as clarification of the legal concepts.