01Jul2016

Regulation on the Safety and Protection of Children Online Adopted

Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Regulation on the Safety and Protection of Children using the Information and Communications Technology on June 30. This is the first legal document of such kind. 

According to the Regulation, the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications (MTT) is in charge of preventive measures. It does so by providing relevant and accurate information and education. Children, parents and teachers will be able to acquire information about benefits and risks of using the Internet, as well as methods for its safe use. MTT in cooperation with the public media service of Serbia will promote the protection of children on the Internet and broadcast programs on this subject.

Additionally, MTT will recieve reports concerning harmful, inappropriate and illegal content and behavior on the Internet which violate children's rights. It will be possible to deliver such reports either by telephone or via the electronic form on the website. The Regulation prescribes steps how the Ministry in question, social and health services should react in cases of unsafe children's exposure online. 

CENTRE published the policy brief on children's safety on the Internet in March this year. It identified the lack of coordination among activities targeting children's behavior online and emphasized the importance of educating everyone - children, parents, teachers - about the safe ways of using the Internet. UNICEF office based in Belgrade published findings of the project which primarily explored parental awarness of online risks. Moreover, UNICEF launched a global raising-awarness campaign aimed at creating a safer Internet worldwide (#EndViolence online, #ReplyForAll).

Photo Credit:UNICEF