[June 18, 2009] ITU: Experts agree on strategy to protect children in cyberspace Tweet Geneva, Jun 18, 2009 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- The Strategic Dialogue on Safer Internet Environment for Children took place 2-3 June in Tokyo, Japan. A communique issued at the closing highlighted agreements on developing a framework for achieving safety, promoting voluntary self-regulatory initiatives in the private sector and improving user literacy to increase awareness among children and young people as well as among parents, guardians and educators. Draft guidelines on Child Online Protection (COP), which have been prepared in close collaboration with numerous UN agencies and other organizations, including ITU, UNICRI, INTERPOL, and the European Network Information Security Agency were reviewed at the Strategic Dialogue. The Tokyo Strategic Dialogue represents a significant step forward to further the child safety agenda at the regional and international levels. It provided a platform for policy-makers, regulators, industry, civil society, research and academia to exchange views, experiences, guidelines and initiatives regarding key policy and strategic approaches in the area of child online protection. The discussions examined the dimensions of child e-safety, including information about the dangers facing children online, the tools presently available to reduce risks, as well as recommendations and key activities which could be undertaken in this area. Along with promoting educational and awareness initiatives, several technical measures such as filtering services and parental controls were also considered. The Tokyo communique (www.itu.int/osg/csd/cybersecurity/gca/cop/meetings/june-tokyo/index.html) recommended that ITU should be the international platform for coordinating expertise in developing common codes of conduct and recommendations as well as for sharing information to protect children online. Comments on the Draft Guidelines on Child Online Protection (www.itu.int/osg/csd/cybersecurity/gca/cop/guidelines/) can be sent to [email protected] until 30 June 2009. The Guidelines will be presented at ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009 which will be held in Geneva, 5-9 October. The Child Online Protection (COP) initiative has been developed by ITU along with UN agencies and other partners as part of ITU's Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA) and aims to tackle cybersecurity holistically. For more information, please visit www.itu.int/osg/csd/cybersecurity/gca/cop/ or contact: Sanjay Acharya Chief, Media Relations and Public Information ITU Tel: +41 22 730 5046 Mobile: +41 79 249 4861 E-mail: [email protected] About ITU ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues, and the global focal point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and services. For nearly 145 years, ITU has coordinated the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, established the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems and addressed the global challenges of our times, such as mitigating climate change and strengthening cybersecurity. ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums, such as ITU TELECOM WORLD, bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the telecommunications and ICT industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world. From broadband Internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based meteorology, from convergence in fixed-mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice and TV broadcasting to next-generation networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world. Visit our Web site at http://www.itu.int/newsroom CONTACT: Sanjay Acharya, Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU Tel: +41 22 730 5046 Tel: +41 79 249 4861 e-mail: [email protected] WWW: http://www.itu.int ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected]. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]