SafeChild: UNICEF and the Government of Luxembourg Embrace Digital Impact for Children

UNICEF and the Government of Luxembourg announced today the launch of SafeChild, a new partnership that aims to ensure UNICEF possesses the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively safeguard the safety of digital systems for children in contexts including development, humanitarian emergencies, and fragile settings, thereby protecting their rights.

The SafeChild partnership aims to mobilize global dialogue, government action and capacity building to accelerate the design, deployment and use of secure digital systems that will help improve children’s lives. It will create strong cybersecurity ecosystems and improve UNICEF and our partners’ ability to withstand and recover from cyber threats.

Digital transformation offers significant opportunities to accelerate the delivery of education, health, and social protection services. However, it also introduces risks such as data privacy violations, misinformation, and hate speech. Children and young people are especially susceptible to online dangers such as cyberbullying and abuse and may not be aware of the potentially long-lasting consequences. For instance, data breaches involving children's information can have adverse effects throughout their lives.

"In a digital world, protecting children online is as important as safeguarding them offline," says Xavier Bettel, Vice Prime Minister, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Government of Luxembourg. "Luxembourg is proud to partner with UNICEF on the SafeChild initiative, pioneering a safer digital environment for children. We are not only addressing current cybersecurity challenges but also laying the foundation for a future where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive safely in the digital age".

With cyber insecurity emerging as a rapidly growing risk for children, for our partners and for UNICEF, this partnership is not only crucial, but also forward-looking and a first of its kind for both partners.

"We must enhance our commitment to safeguard children in the digital age,” says Kaan Cetinturk, UNICEF Chief Information Officer. "It's not only a moral imperative, it's also a strategic investment for the future. Every effort we put into SafeChild can yield significant benefits, ensuring a safer and more equitable future for our children and society as a whole.”

Thanks to this initiative, UNICEF digital technology staff will be able to better advocate for and guide digital services, manage risks, and protect child rights. The project will bring together governments, academia, the private sector, and development and humanitarian communities to address cybersecurity challenges affecting child rights.

With SafeChild, UNICEF and the Government of Luxembourg will contribute towards a world where digital technologies benefit and empower children in the digital age.