Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police, in association with UNICEF, hosted the JUVENTICA – Digital Rights & Safety of Children Conclave in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
The event aimed to unite policymakers, senior police officials, educators, parents, students, and child rights authorities and specialists to tackle the escalating challenges and possibilities children encounter in the digital sphere.
With children spending more and more time in a world defined by digital platforms, discussions about their online safety are becoming increasingly imperative. The conclave provided a space for various stakeholders to explore how institutions, families, and communities can collaborate to protect children’s rights and well-being in online environments.
Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania, spoke about the changing landscape of law enforcement’s responsibilities concerning cyber threats to children, and detailed the steps being taken by Odisha Police in increasing awareness on cyber safety and in capacity building of police by way of creation of 20 more cyber police stations across districts and engagement of Cyber Experts at the field level for technical support in investigation.
He also mentioned about upliftment of 71 police stations with friendly corners and committed to take steps to make the entire Odisha Police child friendly in the days to come. Khuriania emphasised the collective responsibility of law enforcement agencies and civil society to protect children in the digital space.
Vinaytosh Mishra, DGP, CID-CB, pointed out the increasing complexity of cyber threats specifically aimed at children. “India’s internet user base has grown from about 125 million in 2011 to over 845 million in 2021. As technology reaches deeper into society, protecting children from cyber threats has become an increasingly important responsibility for law enforcement and institutions,” Mishra said. He outlined the actions being taken by the Children and Women Online Abuse Monitoring Unit of Cyber Wing of CID CB, including taking down of CSEAM and other harmful contents from the internet.
Shyni S., Addl. DGP, CAW & CW, underlined the importance of prevention and awareness alongside enforcement. “Children today grow up navigating both physical and digital worlds. Our responsibility is not only to respond to cybercrimes but also to empower children, parents and teachers with the knowledge and tools to use the internet safely and responsibly,” she said.
Emphasising the need for a rights-based approach to children’s digital lives, Prasanta Kumar Dash, Chief of field office, UNICEF, Odisha, said, “Technology is reshaping childhood, but children are not passive users of the digital world. They are learners, creators, and leaders, and their voices must be at the centre of discussions on digital safety”.
One of the highlights of the event was the celebrity and Influencer fireside conversations that explored how online culture, social media trends, and digital content influence the aspirations, behaviour, and identities of adolescents.
The conclave also featured three thematic panel discussions focusing on the role of policing in protecting children online, the influence of digital platforms and creators on young minds, and the importance of privacy, consent, and digital boundaries in safeguarding children’s rights in the digital environment.
During the conclave, key institutional commitments were announced to strengthen children’s digital safety in Odisha. Odisha Police proposed initiatives such as the Rakshya Saathi volunteer programme, strengthened training for Child Welfare Police Officers, and greater engagement with schools. The School & Mass Education Department also committed to introduce digital safety education, encourage Digital Safety initiatives as a standard of excellence for schools in Odisha, and promote ‘Digital Hygiene and Psycho-social First Aid’ as an essential support mechanism for children facing online harm.
The police and the School and Mass Education Department jointly committed to introducing a mechanism for Child Welfare Police Officer participation and engagement with schools and in parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) and school management committees. UNICEF Odisha also committed to design a training curriculum for effective participation of CWPO’s in PTMs.
