The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Amb. Vincenzo Grassi, took the floor today in the Interactive dialogue with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, Najat Maalla M’jid, in the framework of the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council.
Italy reaffirmed that the protection and the promotion of children’s rights are traditionally the utmost priority for its action at both national and international levels. “We are strongly committed to preventing and combating all forms of violence and abuse against them, even the new emerging ones, especially in the digital environment”, the Permanent Representative of Italy remarked.
Italy noted that, from cyberbullying to hate speech and fake news, from sexual harassment to privacy violations, risks online are increasing at a worrying rate and children are among the most vulnerable and exposed to these dangers. It also drew attention to the continuum between violence online and offline, highlighted in the Special Representative’s report.
Italy further underlined that children need special protection online and have to be aware of potential risks, recalling in this regard, that last year Italy published a translated version, together with a child-friendly version, of the General Comment n. 25 of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child entitled “On the rights of minors in relation to the digital environment”.
Italy finally joined the Special Representative’s call and encouraged the Member States to keep the promise made through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs to end all forms of violence against children. “It’s time to accelerate our efforts to leave no child behind”, Amb. Grassi concluded.
Read the full statement here.
