Prevention Is the Best Protection for Children from Digital Violence

This was the assessment presented at the panel “Protecting Children in the Digital Environment,” held on the second day of the eighth Digital Summit of the Western Balkans. The summit was organized in Herceg Novi by the Ministry of Public Administration under the auspices of the Government of Montenegro, in partnership with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), and as part of Montenegro’s chairmanship of the Berlin Process. “Candidates are not required to adopt the Digital Services Act before joining the EU, but we believe it offers important lessons for governments, regulators, civil society, and citizens. We cannot teach children only whom to report a problem to; when a child reports a problem, we are obliged to ensure that they are protected, provide support, take them seriously, and direct them toward appropriate communication channels and online protection measures,” said Beković. UNICEF Child Protection Officer Nada Đurović Martinović pointed out that one in ten children aged 12 to 17 in Montenegro had been exposed to sexual exploitation through digital technology. “The research showed that these crimes occur on social networks—most often on Instagram, in 45 percent of cases; on Viber, in 42 percent; on Snapchat, in 25 percent; and on gaming platforms, in five percent of cases,” Đurović Martinović said. Maida Ćulahović, coordinator for policy and public advocacy at the Sarajevo-based citizens’ association “Why Not,” noted that children are vulnerable and need protection, but also have the right to express themselves, access information, and participate in various processes.