UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore to speak on online child safety

9 July 2021 at 10:00 AM to 10:15 AM EST / 5:00 PM to 5:15 PM (Moscow Time)

July 8, 2021

WHAT: Cyber Polygon is a unique cybersecurity event that combines the world’s largest technical training exercise for corporate teams and an online conference featuring senior officials from international organizations and leading corporations. The 2021 conference discusses the key risks of digitalization and best practice for the secure development of digital ecosystems, while the technical exercise builds and tests the skills needed to protect industries, centering on a targeted supply-chain attack. Every year, the live stream draws in millions of spectators from across the world.

WHO: Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, and Stanislav Kuznetsov, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sber, will discuss online child safety at Cyber Polygon 2021.

WHEN: 9 July 2021 at 10:00 AM to 10:15 AM EST / 5:00 PM to 5:15 PM (Moscow Time)

WHERE: Watch the live stream on https://cyberpolygon.com

WHY: The digital environment has opened unrivaled opportunities for children in all facets of their lives — from learning and participation to play, socialization and creativity. During the pandemic, the internet and digital technology was a lifeline for many children and their families. Still, they are also exposed to a myriad of risks online, including cyberbullying, child sexual abuse and exploitation, hate speech, harassment, and exposure to harmful content

The digital environment provides numerous opportunities for children in every aspect of their lives — from their education and socialization, to their ability to play and participate in their communities. In particular, during the pandemic, the internet and digital technology provided a lifeline for children and their families. But increased time online also poses significant risks to children — including online exploitation and cyberbullying. We need to bring the public and private sectors together to identify solutions to balance the risks of the online world with its many rewards

Henrietta Fore

UNICEF Executive Director

According to Microsoft’s worldwide survey, 37 percent of schoolchildren between the ages of 8 and 17 have experienced cyberbullying to some degree. Schoolchildren are also among the most vulnerable victims of cyberbullying. In addition, reports of child sexual abuse material online are increasing year-on-year. In 2020 alone, for example, 21.7 million reports were made to the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline, constituting 65.4 million images, videos and other files containing suspected child sexual abuse material and other incident related content.

In a two-way dialogue, the speakers will discuss the urgent need for protection of children from online abuse, in the importance of accelerating government regulation action, and potential for cooperation between telecom providers and regulators to make the digital environment safe for children.