ASEAN Unites to Build Safer Digital Spaces for Every Child

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 18 November 2025 – With the theme “Empowering Children and Strengthening ASEAN’s Commitment to a Safer Digital Future”, the 2025 ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection brings together policymakers,  technology and digital industry leaders, civil society and young people from across the region to confront growing online risks, share solutions, and shape emerging policies on child online safety. 

The annual Forum, this year hosted in Kuala Lumpur, reaffirms Malaysia’s leadership in advancing regional cooperation and signals the region’s continued momentum in safeguarding children’s rights online.

“Technology is reshaping how children learn, connect and discover the world,” said YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. “But alongside opportunities come real risks – cyberbullying, misinformation, grooming, exploitation, and the emotional toll of being ‘always online.’ These challenges do not stop at borders, our solutions cannot stop at borders either. We must stand together, share what works, and build safer digital ecosystems across the region.”

Co-hosted by Malaysia’s Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) and Ministry of Communications, in collaboration with ASEAN and supported by UNICEF, the Forum also benefited from the generous support of Safe Online, UNICEF Australia, and the Australian government including: the eSafety Commissioner; the Attorney-General’s Department; Australian Aid; and the Australian High Commission. Together, these partnerships underscore ASEAN’s shared commitment to a safer digital future for every child.

Co-designed with UNICEF’s Young People’s Advisory Group, the Forum ensures that children’s voices and lived experiences shape every discussion – from digital wellbeing and mental health to inclusive online environment for children with disabilities.

"Safety must be built into every click, every platform, every product and every policy,” said Robert Gass, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia. “Children have the right to be safe and protected online. That safety begins by ensuring children are not just consulted but included at the decision-making table. Real progress happens when governments, industry, schools, and families all play their part. Protecting children online isn’t the job of one actor — it’s our shared accountability."

The Forum also marked the launch of Malaysia’s National Child Policy Action Plan, officiated by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to advance every child’s rights and protection in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The Action Plan translates policy into concrete measures to strengthen child protection systems, promote digital literacy, and address online risks such as exploitation and abuse — complementing the ASEAN ICT Forum’s regional agenda in aligning national priorities with ASEAN’s shared commitment to build safer digital spaces for every child.

“We must protect children without limiting their potential,” said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, “Malaysia holds to one clear principle. We do not want to disconnect them from technology — we want to empower them to use it safely and confidently. A child must be free to learn, to explore, and to imagine, but free safely, not free to be exploited. This is why Malaysia is strengthening a whole-of-government approach that unites ministries, regulators, educators, parents, communities, and technology companies. We believe that safety and freedom must coexist. A child cannot thrive if they are unsafe, and they cannot succeed if they are unprepared. Our duty is to ensure they have both protection and opportunity”.

In Malaysia, online child sexual exploitation and abuse remains a growing concern. According to the Disrupting Harm study[1] one in 25 children aged 12 to 17 in Malaysia has experienced online sexual exploitation and abuse, including being blackmailed, coerced or having their private images shared without consent. Yet, only three per cent of Malaysian school children say they would seek help through existing reporting channels[2]. These findings serve as a wake-up call for all sectors to act faster and design a digital world that protects children by default, not by exception.

“As someone who grew up learning and spending time online, I understand how much the digital world shapes who we are. But with that power comes responsibility, to make it a space where every child feels safe, valued and protected. When something goes wrong online, children need to know there’s somewhere they can turn to report the harm without fear or judgment, when they need it most,” said Allyzsa Zahril, member of the Young Persons Advisory Group (YPAG).

The gap between the online harms children face and the support available to them highlights the urgent need for reporting systems that are safe, easy to use, and free from fear or stigma. The Forum aims to bridge gaps and offer solutions by championing safety-by-design principles and co-creating child-friendly technology and apps that put children’s rights, needs and voices at the heart of every digital product, while ensuring that children who experience harm online can access the care, counselling, and support they need.

As ASEAN strengthens its collective response to protect children online, the Forum marks another step toward building a region where every child can participate, learn and thrive safely in the digital world. The discussions at the 2025 ASEAN ICT Forum will support implementation of the next Regional Plan of Action for the Protection of Children from All Forms of Online Exploitation and Abuse in ASEAN (2026–2030), setting a shared direction for governments, industry and communities to work hand in hand with children, creating digital spaces that are not only safe by design but empowering by choice.
 

[1] Disrupting Harm Malaysia Executive Summary, UNICEF Malaysia

[2] Ibid

NOTES to Editor

About the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD)

The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) is responsible for advancing policies and programmes that promote gender equality, strengthen families, and safeguard the welfare of vulnerable groups. MWFCD works to empower women, protect children’s rights, and ensure inclusive support for persons with disabilities, older persons, and marginalized communities. Through initiatives that champion social justice, equitable opportunities, and resilient communities, MWFCD fosters a caring and inclusive society where every individual can thrive and contribute to Malaysia’s development.

About the ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection

This annual Forum is convened as a specific action under the Regional Plan of Action for the Protection of Children from All Forms of Online Exploitation and Abuse in ASEAN 2021-2025 to promote national implementation across sectors and actors. Previous hosts – Cambodia (2022), Thailand (2023), Indonesia (2024).  For more information see – www.aseanictforum.com. #aseanictforum