The Tunisian National Forum on Cyberbullying has recommended developing a unified national mechanism to monitor cyberbullying against children. The forum, organized by the Ministry of Family, Women, Childhood, and Elderly Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) office in Tunisia, aimed to create a safe digital environment for all children. Participants emphasized the shared responsibility of families, institutions, associations, and media in preventing cyberbullying.
The forum, held under the theme "Towards a safe digital environment for all children," brought together various stakeholders to discuss ways to prevent and respond to cyberbullying. Participants highlighted the importance of digital education, school-based prevention, and family support in protecting children from cyberbullying. They also stressed the need for a coordinated approach to digital safety and prevention.
The Ministry of Family, Women, Childhood, and Elderly Affairs has initiated a draft law to protect children in the digital environment. The law aims to ensure the participation of all stakeholders and enhance their role in protecting children from all forms of threats in the digital space. The ministry's efforts have been praised by participants, who see this as a crucial step towards creating a safer digital environment for children.
The forum featured two discussion sessions, focusing on "Prevention and building a safe digital environment for children" and "The process of supporting children victims of cyberbullying." Experts and stakeholders discussed the initial response, protective interventions, security research, psychological and social support, judicial protection, and procedural guarantees. These discussions aimed to identify effective strategies for preventing and responding to cyberbullying.
The Tunisian government has been actively working to address cyberbullying, with the national plan for the prevention and response to violence against children online, which aims to achieve its goals by 2028. The forum was held in commemoration of the International Day against Cyberbullying. Participants emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to build a safe and supportive digital environment for children.
Key stakeholders, including families, schools, media, and technological actors, have a crucial role to play in preventing cyberbullying. Participants at the forum called for increased awareness and education on digital safety, as well as the development of effective reporting mechanisms for cyberbullying incidents. This, they argued, would help to mitigate the negative impacts of cyberbullying on children.
The forum's recommendations will inform policy and programming aimed at preventing cyberbullying and promoting a safe digital environment for children in Tunisia. The government's efforts to address this issue have been welcomed by stakeholders, who see this as a critical step towards protecting children's rights and well-being in the digital age.
Key points
- Development of a unified national mechanism to monitor cyberbullying against children
- Draft law to protect children in the digital environment
- Collaborative efforts to build a safe and supportive digital environment for children
