Focus: Child online protection and prospects for international cooperation within the ITU, particularly in preparation for the 2026 Plenipotentiary Conference.
► Context:
In preparation for the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC-25) in Baku, four of the six ITU regional telecommunication organizations submitted proposals to revise WTDC Resolution 67, "The role of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector in child online protection." This collective action underscored the international community's consensus on the need to strengthen the ITU's role in child online protection (COP).
The consultation session was moderated by Maria Bolshakova, Deputy Director General of the RCC.
► Discussion Topics:
• Creating a safe and secure digital environment
• Addressing harmful content and combating cyberbullying
• Educating children, parents, guardians, and educators
• Enhancing technological protection tools and solutions
• Fostering public-private partnerships
• Facilitating the international exchange of best practices
• Developing measurement frameworks and indicators for child online protection
► Participants and Contributions:
These topics were explored by a diverse group of experts and stakeholders:
• A coordinator from the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and former Chairman of ITU-T Study Group 17. He presented on ITU-T's work in child online protection, specifically the development of recommendations for child identification and parental control modes.
• A coordinator from the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), who serves as Co-Chair of Question 3/2 (Cybersecurity) of ITU-D Study Group 2. He outlined the work on COP topics within this group and highlighted cooperation with the ITU Council Working Group on Child Online Protection.
• Representatives of the communications administrations of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Brazil, and China. They shared their national approaches to COP from regulatory and technical perspectives.
• A representative of the Alliance for Child Protection in the Digital Environment. He presented the unique cooperative model among major Russian telecommunications players for implementing a wide range of child protection activities.
► The consultations were also attended by representatives from:
• The communications administrations of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
• Organizations including JSC "Kazakhtelecom" and the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ and others.
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