An Online Meeting on the Protection of Children from Harmful and Dangerous Information was held

Within the Project “Protection of Children from Harmful and Dangerous Information in the Digital Society” run in cooperation of the “Regional Development” PU, “NAR”, the Ombudsman, the Ministry of Science and Education, the State Committee on Family, Women and Child Affairs, the Association of Cybersecurity Organizations of Azerbaijan (ACOA), and the ADA University, state officials and experts had an online meeting with children on 20th November 2024. 

This meeting, which was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of adoption of the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, has visually brought together over 100 pupils from across the country, including Baku, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Lankaran, Gabala, and other districts. 

The Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, congratulating minor participants upon 20th November- Unversal Children’s Day, also expressed her thankfulness to the partner stakeholders and the “Regional Development” PU as an organizer during the online meeting. 

She gave information to the attendees about broad child rights reforms taken at the state level, activities by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, as well as the purpose of the child rights month-long campaign, running from 20 October to 20 November at the initiative of the Ombudsman.  

The Ombudsman noted that this year is remarkable because it is marked by a number of events, as well as the hosting the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) by Azerbaijan. 

Speaking about achievements of society in digital development, Sabina Aliyeva informed the participants about the legislative acts and international treaties in the field of protection of children from harmful influences by which Azerbaijan is consented to be bound , as well as the impacts of digitalization of society from the perspective of child welfare. 

The Ombudsman, underscoring the importance of collaboration between the corresponding stakeholders to protect minors from such harmful practices, emphasizing that it is necessary to raise awareness of children and people being in contact with children, teaching specific related subjects at educational establishments, strengthening relationships between parents and school, improving child-friendly application procedures, and increasing the control of relevant authorities, including business entities, over this field.   

Meanwhile, the child listeners were also informed about the work done by the Ombudsman Office in the field of child welfare and how children can reach the Ombudsman. 

Bahar Muradova, Chairwoman of the State Committee on Family, Women and Child Affairs, Matin Kerimli, Head of Office of the Ministry of Science and Education, Vafa Kazdal, Vice-rector of the ADA University, Hokuma Karimova, Director of the Department for Public Affairs and Corporate Communication of the NAR, Gunay Aghayeva, the representative and Tabriz Gasimov, a lawyer of the “Regional Development” PU, Elvin Balacanov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ACOA,  and Rauf Jabbarov, Deputy Chair of the Association, made speeches in the course of the meeting. 

Furthermore, the questions raised by child listeners were answered and listened to their recommendations. 

The online meeting was over with the demonstration of a flashmob of child participants. 

It must be noted that the key purpose of the Project is to safeguard the rights of children through raising awareness among parents and children on how to correctly and safely use digital technology and resources. Within the framework of this campaign, and in the cities and districts mentioned above, it is scheduled to organize awareness-raising sessions and conferences for parents and students of VII- XI grades on the issues related to the protection of children from harmful information, proper usage of social media and digital resources, role of child rights in digital society. In addition, different printed materials are to be prepared and dispensed.