Today representatives of the major mobile operators in El Salvador – TIGO, Claro, Telefónica and Digicel and the The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – signed the “Act of Commitment for the Protection of Children and Adolescents Abuse and Sexual Exploitation Online”. In doing so, they agreed to coordinate efforts to develop awareness campaigns on the appropriate use of information and communications technology, aiming to protect children and teens online.
The initiative will includes developing awareness campaigns and education to promote safe internet use; and to develop and disseminate material geared to children, adolescents and adults for their customers.
The signatories have also committed to implementing educational programmes on safe internet use for families, teachers and students from public and private schools nationwide, and supporting efforts to eradicate child abuse and exploitation online.
The signed document also recommends the active involvement of competent national authorities in the prevention and prosecution of cybercrime specifically against girls, boys and teens, and promotes reporting measures of sexual abuse content online.
UNICEF representative Gordon Jonathan Lewis said: “This effort of the operators is essential for children from El Salvador to enjoy the benefits that the internet offers free of the risk of abuse and exploitation”.
With the support of the GSMA – which represents the global mobile industry – the agreement was made under the “We Care” campaign, which aims to leverage mobile technology to benefit the people of El Salvador. The country has more than 9 million total mobile connections, and smartphone connections are expected to grow from 21 % today to 58 % by 2020.
“Because of the strong growth of the Salvadoran mobile market, it is great news that mobile operators are working together to use mobile technology to benefit the health and education of children”, said GSMA Director for Latin America, Sebastián Cabello.
Operators’ proposal to protect children online
TIGO. “The protection of children and young people online is a priority. As leaders in the industry, we are directing this issue that requires everyone’s full attention. Today we are making a commitment as an industry but must also empower the authorities, parents and teachers to protect our children from online risks”, said Marcelo German, TIGO’s General Manager in El Salvador.
Tigo will foster the protection of children online with lectures to be delivered by the Salvador of the World Foundation (FUSALMO) to public and private schools in the country. TIGO will be present in the 116 schools that support the Foundation in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and FUSALMO in the “Education for Children and Youth” project. This initiative will reach 43,000 children in 14 municipalities, as well as the 8 schools sponsored by the programme “Adopt a School” that have been set up by the Business Foundation for Educational Development (FEPADE) and USAID.
CLARO. Balmore Menjivar, Claro Director for El Salvador, said that “Claro has always been committed to the childhood in El Salvador through its various programmes of Social Responsibility. This day we joined the UNICEF initiative, contributing our technological expertise and implementing educational activities on the appropriate use of ICT.
Claro will support education for children’s online protection in schools and will include a section in the showroom CONECTA-2 at the children’s museum Tin Marin, a partner for over 10 years. Claro will also promote the use of parental controls on their television subscription system and in the app Claro Security for phones, tablets and laptops.
TELEFÓNICA. “As part of our commitment to promote digital confidence, Telefónica works to foster an environment in which minors can use technology safely. Our efforts to block sites and the development of education projects in our Telefónica Classrooms’ Foundation are just a part of our work in this area”, said Javier Soriano, Telefónica Director.
Telefónica runs various initiatives including blocking child pornography sites in coordination with Internet Watch Foundation; the “Shield Movistar” service that includes the option of parental control; and promotion of good internet use in 126 schools where volunteers work through the Telefónica Classrooms’ Foundation. El Salvador Family Digital platform will soon be launched to educate children, parents and teachers on proper internet use and its risks.
DIGICEL. Finally, Celeo Arias, CEO of Digicel, said: “We are committed to children in El Salvador. Since our company began operations in the country, we had a goal to contribute directly to its development. We are proud to be part of this initiative and believe that together as a private company, we can make a difference in the lives of thousands of children through the implementation of programmes that ensure their protection”.
Digicel will promote the protection of children with monthly lectures at Educating a Salvadoran Foundation (FESA). Launched four years ago and reaching more than 300 children per month, the Project talks about privacy violation and cyberbullying through social networks, and the development of education through free technology. It will support, devise, and promote “Soy Niña” programmes around the country.