UNICEF and MDEC announce partnership to put children’s rights and safety at the heart of Malaysia’s growing games industry

KUCHING, 20 August 2026 – UNICEF and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) announced a partnership to strengthen how children’s rights, safety and well-being are considered in Malaysia’s growing games industry.

The partnership was announced by YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital during the BAGFEST 2026 event in Kuching, Sarawak. 

“Children have the same rights online as they do offline. Digital games can support children’s creativity, autonomy, competence, relationships, and emotional well-being when they are designed well. However, these benefits are not automatic. Design choices can support or undermine children’s safety, agency, and development. As the industry continues to grow, we must ensure the children’s needs are considered from the outset so that digital play experiences are safer, more inclusive, and more supportive of their well-being,” he said.

The collaboration brings together MDEC’s industry reach and UNICEF’s global child-rights expertise to support Malaysia’s games ecosystem in considering children’s well-being throughout the design and development process.

“Children should be able to play, create and connect online without their rights or safety being an afterthought,” said Robert Gass, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam. “Children and parents should not have to carry the burden of digital safety alone. The companies shaping children’s digital experiences have a responsibility too. The strongest safeguards are built in from the start-not added only after harm occurs. This effort gives Malaysia an opportunity to show that the growth of its digital economy and the rights of children can advance together.”

“Malaysia’s games industry is growing in both ambition and global reach. As we strengthen the digital creative ecosystem, it is important that this growth is anchored in trust and responsibility,” said Anuar Fariz Fadzil, Chief Executive Officer of MDEC. “Together with UNICEF, MDEC will continue working with our nation’s studios and developers to provide practical guidance that helps them consider children’s rights and safety from the design stage. Responsible innovation does not limit creativity; it strengthens the credibility and long-term competitiveness of our industry,” he added.

The collaboration will draw on Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC), a UNICEF-led global initiative that translates research into practical guidance and tools. Developed with online games design professionals, the free RITEC Design Toolbox can be adapted by studios and design teams to support children’s well-being in their everyday design and development processes. This can help companies create better digital play experiences while strengthening player trust, product quality and long-term value.

Held in Kuching from 19 to 23 August, BAGFEST 2026 brings together industry leaders, creators, investors, students and the public as Sarawak strengthens its role in the regional digital creative economy.

As part of the festival, UNICEF and MDEC are contributing to the first industry engagement under their partnership. Through an industry workshop and a B2B panel discussion on 20 and 21 August, UNICEF is bringing children’s rights, safety and well-being into industry conversations about the future of digital play.

By working with industry leaders, creators and policymakers, UNICEF aims to help shape a digital ecosystem in which innovation and business growth go hand in hand with the rights, safety and well-being of every child.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About RITEC

Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) is a global initiative to advance children’s well-being in digital play through game design. It is led by UNICEF in partnership with the LEGO Foundation, the LEGO Group, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center and Games for Change.

RITEC is not a certification scheme or regulatory approval. Their use does not constitute UNICEF endorsement of any company, product or service.

About MDEC 

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is the national agency under the Ministry of Digital driving Malaysia’s digital economy. Celebrating 30 years of accelerating digital transformation, MDEC leads the Malaysia Digital (MD) initiative, fueling innovation, investment, and inclusive growth across the digital landscape. Guided by the pillars of digital rakyat, digital economy, and digital government, MDEC champions Malaysia’s path to becoming an AI Nation by 2030 and partners globally to build a resilient, competitive digital ecosystem.

For more information, visit www.mdec.my