Parents, key stakeholders for child rights in the digital environment

The following is the full statement delivered by our UN Representative, Melissa Barbottin, as part of the discussions on the rights of the child and the digital environment. 

In an ever-changing world, digital technologies have undergone rapid transformation and children have not escaped these changes. Unfortunately, despite its many positive effects on our lives, the digital environment also presents serious risks for children.

We at MMM strongly believe that including, educating and supporting parents in the process of helping children navigate the digital environment safely and responsibly is key to mitigate these risks and preserve a child’s physical and mental integrity. In particular, as they assume most of the unpaid work of caring for and educating children, mothers should be equipped to guide and interact with their children about their use of digital technologies.

This means that parents themselves need to be educated on the risks and dangers of the digital world, and how they can provide age and gender appropriate guidance to their children to alleviate the risks while taking advantage of the benefits.

Parents must also be made aware of the impacts on their children of their own use of digital technologies. Not only does their own usage patterns influence their children’s but their overuse of screens reduces their interactions with their children. This can be particularly harmful for early childhood development.

Our recommendations:

1. Equip parents with digital parenting skills by providing information, workshops or training, parenting resources, and fostering communication
2. Encourage parents to have open communication with their children about their digital lives, so that they discuss the risks and benefits of technology, set rules and boundaries together, and establish a culture of trust and respect

Children have the right to access information, communicate, and express themselves online, but they also have the right to be protected from all forms of online violence and other indirect harm induced by the use of digital technologies. For these rights to be fulfilled, parents must be considered as key stakeholders, and adequately educated and supported.

MMM oral statement for download

The Annual Day on the Rights of the Child was part of the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council.