Children must be educated to use their own critical sense in using the media and the Internet. This was one of the results of the meetings on actions to fight against child pornography and paedophilia on the Internet, which took place on 21 June 1999 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, with the participation of service providers, non-governmental organisations and Interpol representatives. The seminar aimed at improving knowledge of the way paedophile networks operate on the Internet and at defining solutions to this problem . In accordance with the Action Plan adopted at the January 1999 meeting on Sexual Abuse of Children, Child Pornography and Paedophilia on the Internet, UNESCO in collaboration with its NGO partners has mobilized resources to work on the following: An electronic watchtower that will serve as a helpline to children, putting them directly in touch with social assistants, psychologists or doctors, with the police if need be. The same watchtower will also provide news and information page, links to all NGOs working in this field and an archive of relevant documents. A feasibility study is being finalized by Cyberangels. A book presenting all the themes discussed at the January conference presented in thematic order and simplified for general reading. The English text is being finalized for printing; French version will follow. A special handbook for teachers and parents, in the form of frequently asked questions concerning paedophilia, child pornography, legislation, the workings of the Internet. In effect, this volume will serve as a glossary and will be published in English and French. Other language editions are also planned, as donations become available. This handbook is being prepared by volunteer specialists in cooperation with selected NGOs. Survey on legislation concerning child pornography and paedophilia on the Internet. This will be done in cooperation with other NGOs and individuals who are working on similar projects, such as the European Child Forum, the International Bureau of Children’s Rights, and selected law schools and institutes. Creation of a strategic group of personalities and leading citizens from all sectors of life to lend resonance to UNESCO’s work, marshal resources and devise long-term strategies to make the internet safe and child-friendly. This group is now organized and is called the World Citizens’ Movement to Protect Innocence in Danger. As Chairperson of the meeting, Homayra Sellier, President of the Citizens’ Movement to Protect Innocence in Danger enumerated the achievements of the Movement to date: co-sponsorship of the film, Bethlehem 2000: peace for the children of the world; receipt of a first donation from the Swiss jeweler, Chopard; organization of national action groups in Argentina, Belgium, Monaco, Switzerland, USA. The purpose of Innocence in Danger is to sensitize world opinion to combat child pornography and paedophilia on the Internet, and to mobilize resources, intellectual, technical and financial. While the focus of this particular study day was children abused on the screen, Sellier emphasized that behind every image of a child abused in photos, film, video or Internet, there was a real child suffering the trauma of that abuse, and that one cannot disassociate real child abuse from its TV or Internet image. Part two: Résumé of discussions Over seventy individuals and representatives of NGOs participated in the discussions led by major foundations, Internet technicians and child specialists. A major point of interest was the presentation by Rachel O’Connell, completing her Ph.D. at Cork University, Ireland. She explained from first hand discussions with paedophiles on the net, how they actually operate and how they deal in trading images. The images are not always for sale, she said, but for making friends and spreading their network. She pointed to pornographic and paedophile images as case evidence for police and judiciary services. "An image of child sexual abuse is evidence of a crime already committed." She ended saying the paedophiles on the Internet are indeed very well organized and know all the techniques of the Internet. Marie-Paule Poilpot, Director of the Foundation for Children (France), said that paedophiles are well organized to abuse children. If we are to work successfully, we also have to organize to make cyberspace safe for children. Poilpot is assisting in the organization of the Balkan and Mediterranean seminar scheduled for December. Christine Leroy, representing Soroptimist International urged respect for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in all its clauses, from direct child abuse in all forms to paedophilia on the Internet. She was followed by Sabrina de Dinechin, World Movement of Mothers, who said there should be ways to guarantee protection to the weakest in society, our children. Parry Aftab, a cyberspace lawyer and author of two books on helping parents introduce their children to the Internet added to this showing how a paedophile by taking on the identity of a child, lures another child through a chat room to potential kidnapping and abuse. The biggest advantage of the Internet is sharing. "We must share our experiences and knowledge through the Internet, that’s how we all advance." Parry Aftab is also Head of the US National Action Group.   A recurring theme was sharing of experiences and knowledge. This was accented by Agnes Fournier de St Maur, Chief of specialized crime, Interpol, who urged the need for cooperation and announced the launching of a new site hosted by Interpol on missing children, legislation on sexual abuse and a data base for police work. She pointed with optimism to the inter-agency agreement for cooperation between UNESCO and Interpol.   On the technical side, the Internet Service Providers Camille de Stempel (AOL), Stéphane Marcowicz (Wanadoo) and Jean-Christophe le Toquin (EuroIspa) explained how the Internet functions: several million sites, networks of sites, chat rooms, email, flash mail, profiles, news groups. They also discussed encryption and how paedophiles can hide behind false names and ‘virtual addresses.’ Concerning the access of minors and young children to the Internet codes of conduct are functioning in Austria, France, Germany, and Italy. EuroIspa has installed hotlines to help surfers and is participating in two projects supported by the European Commission, Inhope and Incore.   Incore concerns the self-classification of sites, as highlighted by David Kerr, Chief Executive of Internet Watch Foundation. He showed how self-description of sites and self-ratings are a first step towards the use of filters to block unwanted sites and messages. Some harmful sites describe themselves ambiguously, others not at all. But one can filter out those that have no site description, and harmful ones by blocking pre-selected keywords.     The European Commission, represented by Richard Swetenham has been supporting many of the NGOs launching hotlines, such as Daphne, and proposing ways to protect children online. The Commission has issued an paper explaining its overall programme and objectives. The conference ended on the note of media education. Most children spend 60% of their time without their parents including many critical learning situations. Evelyne Bevort of the Liaison Centre for Teaching and the Information Media (CLEMI) thus urged that it was important to use educational tools to develop in children their own critical sense in using the media and the Internet. Links on this site: Communication and Society - Children and Youth issues Sexual Abuse of Children, Child Pornography and Paedophilia on the Internet: An international challenge - Expert Meeting, UNESCO, Paris, 18-19 January        Contact:Choy Arnaldo, UNESCO, Communication Division