By Hugh C. McBride
For five days in July, teenagers from around the world worked on making the Internet a safer space for young users.
The world's first International Youth Advisory Congress (IYAC) brought 140 teens representing 19 nations to London for discussions and seminars on topics related to online safety and security. At the end of the gathering, attendees submitted a list of recommendations that will be incorporated into a Children and Young People's Global Online Charter and presented at the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"This event is not about talking to young people. It is not even about thinking how best to protect them. It is about listening to them," Jim Gamble, chief executive officer of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), said in a conference press release. "After all, this is their future we are talking about."
About the Conference
The IYAC gathering was sponsored by CEOP and the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), an international consortium of police forces united in the fight against the online exploitation and abuse of children. Delegates were selected during a three-month online recruitment effort that was aimed at attracting a diverse cross-section of young computer users from a wide range of ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic populations.
"There is no 'one type' of child that uses the Internet, and therefore all children can be susceptible to abuse," a conference publicity presentation stated. "This means that all children everywhere have something to offer IYAC. ... This conference is their chance to give voice to their concerns and to influence change."
Along with a slate of corporate sponsors that included Microsoft, Virgin Media, and Visa Europe, CEOP and VGT put the teen delegates together with representatives from government, industry, and international organizations. According to literature distributed by conference organizers, the event's goals were focused on increasing awareness and enhancing communication among disparate groups:
An International Call to Action
The teen delegates who had been invited to attend the inaugural IYAC spent the first three days of the gathering getting to know one another and meeting with government officials, law enforcement personnel, media representatives, industry leaders, and educators. The final two days of the event were dedicated to drafting and presenting the recommendations that will be forwarded to the United Nations.
In a testimonial section of the CEOP website, one of the conference's youth organizers observed that people who have grown up with the Internet have unique insights, and a special responsibility, when it comes to keeping the online environment safe.
"I have been using the Internet since primary school and have seen it grow and become part of my life in many ways. I can't remember a time without the Internet being there. So for me it makes obvious sense to involve young people in making the virtual world safer," said Stephanie, an Irish girl whose last name was not provided. "We might not have all the answers but we do have a lot of user experience and together I think we can make a real difference."
Key Recommendations
The following were among the "key recommendations" that delegates presented on the final day of the conference:
Conference organizers hope to convene the next IYAC in 2010 in Washington, D.C. "Our intention is to start small and build up over the years," Gamble said.