| James Kon |
THE Government of Brunei Darussalam has been hailed for its proactive measures to make the Internet a safer space for the young population and ensure child rights in the Sultanate.
Marianne Clark-Hattingh, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative to Malaysia and special representative to Brunei Darussalam, yesterday underscored Brunei Government’s commendable efforts in cyber protection of children in her keynote address at the opening ceremony of ‘Brunei Darussalam Children Forum’.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports was present at the event as the guest of honour.
“Brunei is the first country in the region to establish a Child Online Protection Framework built upon the International Telecommunications Union – Child Online Protection Initiative. You led the way in 2013, when many countries were still grappling with the situation,” Clark-Hattingh said.
“The current legislation in Brunei criminalises the possession of child pornography, causing a person under 16 to watch a sexual act, commercial sex with a person under 18 in both inside and outside Brunei, and sexual grooming, among others. These provisions are among the most comprehensive and up-to-date in the region.”
“Also exemplary are the reporting and remedial mechanisms in place for protecting children. The Child Helpline 141 is exemplary for being a full member of Child Helpline International and is listed among emergency telephone numbers provided in national telephone directories. Brunei’s trained school counsellors, health personnel and village leaders who consult with relevant government agencies are working together to protect children.”
However, Clark-Hattingh said more needs to be done in this regard. “Internet service providers should be required to report child abuse materials to law enforcement agencies or other relevant authorities when they learn of it on their own networks.”
She also applauded the Government of Brunei Darussalam which has taken the lead in educating children on the importance of practicing safety, security and good ethics while surfing the Internet.
The National Education System of the 21st Century (SPN21), she said, “is truly is a forward looking one which will ensure your students are ready for the future. It is imperative that the children are equipped with the proper knowledge in order to encourage them to be confident digital citizens”.
Technological advancement, she pointed out, “has ushered in the 4th Industrial Revolution. Sixty-five per cent of jobs in the future are not known. The education system needs to help children acquire 21st Century skills based on capacity for self-learning, adaptation, analytical and problem solving skills. The state has proven itself long-sighted in its vision and progressive in actions, equipping the next generation and allowing them to step confidently into the future,” she said.
“In the past years, UNICEF has extended its support to civil society organisations and the Government of Brunei Darussalam, through consultations, providing expertise and listening to the voice of the youth. We are ready to continue our relationship, providing our support, knowledge and capacities in child rights, wherever necessary,” the UNICEF representative added.
Clark-Hattingh noted that Brunei “has proven to be a leader in child rights. You can make a big impact in the region and beyond, inspiring others to follow your lead as you do more for children”.
“Access to digital technologies and platforms can provide incredible opportunities for education, entertainment, entrepreneurship and innovation. This is especially true for a country like Brunei. You have embraced digital technology and have become an incredibly connected country with over 122 per cent mobile penetration. There are 320,000 Internet users which makes up 74 per cent of the total population in Brunei. The Brunei Government has also had the foresight to invest B$230 million in a ‘Fibre-to-the-Home’ broadband project ensuring that you are infrastructure-ready.”
However, she also reminded the danger and risks in the realm of Internet where one can be exposed to are real such as online harassment, sexual exploitation, targeted advertising, privacy concerns, self-generated sexual content and easy access to inappropriate content.
Marianne highlighted, “Increasingly, social media is being used by children to communicate, share pictures, stories and chat. It is also on these virtual platforms that cyber bullying and harassment occur and where sexual predators and paedophiles lurk. Child on child violence is a rising trend. Bullying can affect children in profound ways. The boundary lines of what is virtual and what is real is ever more blurred. What happens online spills over offline and can affect a child’s mental well-being, self-esteem and at times lead to suicide.
“Efforts must be taken to stop bullying whether online or offline, and as users of these platforms, you should be mindful of what you post about others – think before you speak, practise empathy and kindness and when you see it – speak out. Ask yourself “should I really be posting this? Will someone be hurt of offended if I do?” Take 10 seconds to review your message and ask yourself those questions before you post.”
On the alarming proliferation in the rise of online violence and sexual abuse against children, she said Brunei has seen an increase in Internet-mediated sexual assault. “Girls in particular are reportedly using the Internet to chat and meet with strangers, getting assaulted as a consequence. The number of these cases involving children below 16 has also increased. For many of these cases, the perpetrators are children themselves.”
Violence against children existed well before the digital age, she said, “However, digital technology and the Internet provide new opportunities for abusers and facilitate contact. Those who prey on the vulnerabilities of children and young people can now reach them on a scale that was inconceivable prior to the access provided by the Internet.”
Besides violence and bullying, she highlighted that research has shown that there is delayed speech development when children under the age of two are exposed to devices such as tablets and phones. “The way they make friends and socialise has changed; there is no longer a difference between what is ‘real’ and what is ‘virtual’.”
Clark-Hattingh said, “Additionally, children expose themselves to unnecessary risks when they share too much on social media. Selfies and geo-tagging may leave you vulnerable to dangerous situations if this information falls into the hands of people with bad intentions.
“Photos can be used and shared – and we don’t know by whom or for what purpose. Whatever is posted out there stays in the public domain and can be used or shared by anyone. Not to mention the dark web. So be mindful of what you post online. These are just some of the unintended consequences of the high penetration rate of online users in the country. But this can be mitigated with the right education and guidance.”
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