National Cyber Emergency Response Team of Pakistan, National CERT, in collaboration with International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), co organized a two day specialized capacity building training focused on Child Sensitive Border Management and Cyber Enabled Child Protection at its headquarters in Islamabad. Conducted under the “Children on the Move, Improving Child Protection at Pakistan’s Land Border Crossing Points (ICP PAK) Project,” the initiative brought together senior officials from Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) stationed at airports across Pakistan to strengthen institutional understanding of child protection challenges, border management responsibilities, and the increasing role of cybersecurity in safeguarding vulnerable children.
The training, delivered by Valerie Khan, Child Protection Expert at ICMPD, focused on improving participants’ awareness of child rights, developmental phases, and the vulnerabilities faced by children travelling across borders. Discussions highlighted risks linked to trafficking, smuggling, exploitation, and abuse, particularly for children on the move who may face heightened exposure to unsafe environments and organized criminal networks. Participants were introduced to both national and international legal frameworks governing child protection while also receiving guidance on child sensitive border management practices. Scenario based learning sessions formed a key part of the training and focused on trauma informed interviewing techniques, alternatives to detention, and methods for improving coordinated responses to child protection concerns at border crossing points. The sessions emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional mechanisms to improve the treatment and protection of children in migration related situations.
A major component of the program included a specialized technical session titled “The Digital Border, Cybersecurity and Child Protection,” delivered by Khurram Javed, Director Capacity Building at National CERT. The session explored technology facilitated risks affecting children on the move and highlighted how digital platforms are increasingly being exploited for trafficking, coercion, and other harmful activities. Discussions covered digital recruitment by trafficking networks, online grooming, coercive push factors, misuse of gaming platforms, stalkerware enabled surveillance, and the emerging phenomenon referred to as “digital escort.” Participants were also briefed on cyber profiling indicators relevant to frontline officials responsible for identifying suspicious patterns during border interactions. Additional focus was placed on ethical biometric practices, secure digital case management, data protection protocols, and the recognition of cyber related warning signs during interviews conducted at border entry and exit points. The training reinforced the message that safeguarding digital information is directly connected to child welfare, emphasizing the principle that protecting sensitive data contributes to protecting children themselves.
National CERT stated that strengthening cyber enabled child protection frameworks remains an important part of its broader efforts to improve digital safety and institutional resilience in Pakistan. Through initiatives focused on capacity building, inter agency collaboration, and cybersecurity awareness, the organization continues to support stronger protection mechanisms for vulnerable groups impacted by technological risks. By integrating cybersecurity principles into child sensitive border management practices, National CERT and ICMPD sought to support improved preparedness among frontline agencies, particularly FIA officials responsible for managing sensitive cases involving children travelling through Pakistan’s border and transit systems.
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