Pandemic has brought more child sexual predators online, says UNICEF
New online threats are also exacerbated by growing cases of physical and sexual abuse to which some children are now exposed in their own homes due to school closings and social distancing
(Ottawa) COVID-19 epidemic has led to an increase in the number of online child sexual predators that organizations, governments and parents need to take more seriously, said the head of the UN agency. for childhood.
"We have some worrying signs that online predators are really ... they are increasing," said Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF, in an interview with The Canadian Press this week
Half of the world's children are out of school right now due to the pandemic, Ms. Fore says the situation has created new risks
for young people who are now spending more time on the internet.
“Because children are more online, they are vulnerable. And often they have not been taught to think about their online activities,
how to have a video chat and what to do and not to do, ”she noted.
“There is a lot of manipulation, a lot of sexting, a lot of traffic. "
UNICEF, she said, is in discussions with tech companies because they can do a lot to tackle the problem.
“We are also talking to governments about what they can do. Can we delete sites?
Can we filter videos with artificial intelligence? ", She explained.
Fore also called on governments to ban certain websites that are clearly used by predators.
“But we also need to make sure that our young people receive a good education. They must be able to protect themselves. "
Fore encouraged parents to refer their children to the UNICEF interactive U-Report website - https://oneyouth.unicef.ca/en/u-report
- which is free and confidential for young people 13 years and over.
Fore said that keeping up to date on new online platforms that allow children and adults to talk in groups is a constant work. She did not provide specific examples of new websites or services, but said, "We review them, we evaluate them, we talk to each of the companies. "
"We just hope that everyone realizes that they have a responsibility to the children of this world, and that is
to keep them safe and educate them at the same time. "
New online threats are also exacerbated by the increasing cases of physical and sexual abuse to which some children are now exposed
in their own homes due to school closings and social distancing, said Fore.
“The children went to school to get away from it. But now they are at home. The number of calls we receive,
the number of pleas we receive increase from children at home. "
The forced telework environment also hurts children, she said, and Ms. Fore has put the burden on employers to keep it from happening.
UNICEF has now turned into an international telework operation, and Ms. Fore has told her staff that they are first parents,
then teachers, then UNICEF staff - in that order.
“Many of us work so hard, we have to have employers who understand that this is a difficult time. So you may not be
able to deliver this report on time because you just need to talk to your child. "
Half of the world's children are out of school right now due to the pandemic, Ms. Fore says the situation has created new risks
for young people who are now spending more time on the internet.
“Because children are more online, they are vulnerable. And often they have not been taught to think about their online activities,
how to have a video chat and what to do and not to do, ”she noted.
“There is a lot of manipulation, a lot of sexting, a lot of traffic. "
UNICEF, she said, is in discussions with tech companies because they can do a lot to tackle the problem.
“We are also talking to governments about what they can do. Can we delete sites?
Can we filter videos with artificial intelligence? ", She explained.
Fore also called on governments to ban certain websites that are clearly used by predators.
“But we also need to make sure that our young people receive a good education. They must be able to protect themselves. "
Fore encouraged parents to refer their children to the UNICEF interactive U-Report website - https://oneyouth.unicef.ca/en/u-report
- which is free and confidential for young people 13 years and over.
Fore said that keeping up to date on new online platforms that allow children and adults to talk in groups is a constant work. She did not provide specific examples of new websites or services, but said, "We review them, we evaluate them, we talk to each of the companies. "
"We just hope that everyone realizes that they have a responsibility to the children of this world, and that is
to keep them safe and educate them at the same time. "
New online threats are also exacerbated by the increasing cases of physical and sexual abuse to which some children are now exposed
in their own homes due to school closings and social distancing, said Fore.
“The children went to school to get away from it. But now they are at home. The number of calls we receive,
the number of pleas we receive increase from children at home. "
The forced telework environment also hurts children, she said, and Ms. Fore has put the burden on employers to keep it from happening.
UNICEF has now turned into an international telework operation, and Ms. Fore has told her staff that they are first parents,
then teachers, then UNICEF staff - in that order.
“Many of us work so hard, we have to have employers who understand that this is a difficult time. So you may not be
able to deliver this report on time because you just need to talk to your child. "