East Asia promotes Child protection with meeting on cyberthreats

The Child Protection Desk of the East Asia Province organized a meeting with the student youth leaders of Marist schools and non-school ministries last July 23, Friday. In attendance were 125 student leaders, their advisers, and the school child protection officers. The agenda of the meeting was to provide “awareness on cybercrime, cybersecurity, children’s rights and other forms of cyberthreats” and also to “educate and engage the Gen Z’s to take action in protecting children and youth from online sexual abuse and exploitation, cyberbullying and all forms of cyberthreats.”

The pool of competent Resource Persons included Dr. Teresa Paula de Luna, Associate Professor of UP Diliman who talked about the “Impact of Cyberspace to Human Behavior and Society”. Fr. Yoniz Beley, OMI, who directs the Oblate Youth Philippines, presented the “Need for the Youth to Participate in Co-creating a Safer Cyberspace”. Meanwhile, Mrs. Concepcion Sangil, discussed the Cyber Youth Empowerment Program.

During the workshop in breakout groups, participants were asked the questions: From what has been shared, what touched you and unsettled you? To what is St. Marcellin inviting us today to address the concerns of the children and the young?

Proposals were presented at the plenary. The need for cyber literacy webinars, opening a Student On-line Exploitation and Sexual Abuse of Children Help Desk, creating a Cybersafety Commission in schools and working in close collaboration with the school guidance counselors were articulated, among others.