Page 13 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

FULFILLING NATIONAL ICT VISIONS BY BUILDING TRUST IN THE INTERNET AND PROTECTING THE CONNECTED SAMENA TRENDS

Countries in the SA-ME-NA Region where I was deeply inspired by the Commissioners and the
Child Safety has become a Priority: companies that actively participated in the preparation

of this report. It was a collaborative and participatory
process. The recommendations of the report were
Algeria Bahrain
endorsed by the whole commission.

What is the hope that the Broadband step forward.
Bangladesh Egypt Commission report can help to
accomplish? I believe that where there is a will and a
I was deeply inspired by the way forward (the recommendations of
Commissioners and the companies that the report) we will succeed. This is not
Jordan Kuwait actively participated in the preparation just for the sake of children, or because
of this report. It was a collaborative it is our moral imperative, but also
and participatory process. The because it is good business. Knowing
recommendations of the report were that children soon will be half, if not the
Morocco Oman endorsed by the whole commission. majority, of all Internet users, we want
Many of the participants are decision- them to benefit from and be empowered
makers with access to their peers whom by connectivity rather than being put
I hope will join this movement. Their at risk. I cannot imagine that anybody
Pakistan Saudi Arabia recognition of the urgency to act on would disagree with that.
safeguarding children online, especially
when we will be connecting children in There is no culture, religion, nation, or
the developing countries – and that we community that doesn’t want to protect
UAE all have a role to play – is already a major its most vulnerable; its children.

Photo credit: World Childhood Foundation USA

13 SEPTEMBER 2019