ANNHRIs Secretary-General stresses importance of ensuring safe, inclusive digital space to protect children’s dignity

Manama: Secretary General of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRIs),HE Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali said that the digital sp...

Manama: Secretary-General of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRIs), HE Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali said that the digital space has become an inseparable part of the lives of children and adolescents, offering opportunities for learning and communication, while simultaneously opening the door to increasing cyber threats, ranging from cyberbullying to hacking personal data, particularly in conflict zones that lack adequate legal and digital protection.

This came in His Excellency's speech to the 25th General Assembly of ANNHRIs, held in Doha (headquarters) on Monday, while the General Assembly's accompanying annual conference took place in Bahrain, under the theme of protecting children in the digital space: challenges, legislation, and preventive measures.

The Secretary-General of ANNHRIs said that despite governments and national institutions' efforts, legislative and regulatory gaps still exist, adding that the rapid pace of technological development outstrips the ability of legislation to keep up, which calls for integrated institutional responses based on international standards and the activation of regional and international partnerships to ensure a safe and inclusive digital space that preserves children's dignity and protects their rights at all times and in all places.

Al Jamali stressed that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are among the most prominent tools available to states for promoting and protecting rights, noting that the Paris Principles of 1993 granted NHRIs a broad mandate to operate both nationally and internationally.

In light of growing challenges, His Excellency pointed to the need to support these institutions and unify regional and international efforts to strengthen them, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda, which aims to build strong, well-governed, and inclusive institutions. The Secretary-General of ANNHRIs said that, based on this pivotal role, ANNHRIs chose the theme of protecting children in the digital space as the focus of this year's General Assembly conference, in recognition of the importance of enhancing the response of national institutions to this escalating phenomenon, activating their role in shaping public policies, bridging legislative gaps, and building effective partnerships to protect the most vulnerable groups.