Rights Respecting School: Safer Internet Day

Start: 9th Feb 2021 8:00am

Safer Internet Day is a global event to help everyone to think about being as safe as possible when we are online.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is all about ensuring the best possible childhood for every child and young person. All of the rights apply, all of the time, and this includes the time a child spends on the internet. This week’s activities will include some particular focus on Articles 16 and 17, the rights to privacy and to access reliable information.

The United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (Unicef UK) is calling for a long-term approach to ensure digital inclusion. We're asking the Department for Education to undertake a comprehensive mapping exercise to understand exactly how many children aren't online at home and why that is, and use this information to close the digital divide for good.

 

Article 16  - the right to privacy

Every child has the right to privacy. The law should protect the child’s private, family and home life, including protecting children from unlawful attacks that harm their reputation.

Article 17 - access to information from the media

Every child has the right to reliable information from a variety of sources, and governments should encourage the media to provide information that children can understand. Governments must help protect children from materials that could harm them.