The national policy dialogue titled Safe Scroll: Protecting Our Children Online concluded in Islamabad with the adoption of a five point joint declaration aimed at strengthening safeguards against online exploitation, harassment and blackmail involving children. Held at the Mövenpick Hotel, the eight hour event brought together policymakers, law enforcement officials, judicial representatives, media professionals, technology platforms, civil society organisations and child rights experts to discuss coordinated approaches for improving online child safety across Pakistan. The dialogue was jointly organised by Ministry of Human Rights, Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Punjab, UNICEF Pakistan and UNFPA Pakistan, reflecting a collaborative effort to address the increasing risks children face in digital spaces. Discussions centred on developing practical measures that support prevention, reporting, awareness and institutional coordination while encouraging greater responsibility from both public and private sector stakeholders involved in the digital ecosystem.
Participants endorsed a declaration proposing a series of measures designed to strengthen protection mechanisms and improve support services for children and families. Among the recommendations was the consolidation of existing helplines under the proposed 1121 National Safe Scroll Helpline, which would provide round the clock assistance through voice and chat services, psychological support and mechanisms for requesting the removal of harmful online content. The declaration also proposed several judicial reforms, including treating online abuse involving children as a non compoundable offence, recognising a single video recorded forensic interview as admissible evidence and establishing specialised fast track child courts with a proposed objective of resolving relevant cases within 90 days through video link facilities. These recommendations aim to improve access to justice while reducing the burden on young victims during legal proceedings.
The dialogue also highlighted the importance of public awareness and stronger accountability across digital platforms. Participants recommended expanding television based awareness campaigns by recognising child online protection as a matter of national interest under Section 20(e) of PEMRA Ordinance. The declaration proposed broadcasting 14 minutes of educational content every day during prime time between 7 pm and 11 pm to help families understand online safety practices and available reporting mechanisms, including the proposed 1121 helpline. In addition, participants called for enhanced safeguards across platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Roblox and Discord. Suggested measures included stronger age verification processes, parental control features available in Urdu and prompt removal of child sexual abuse material and digitally manipulated deepfake content. The declaration also referenced findings attributed to the Disrupting Harm 2026 report, which indicated that 1.5 million children experienced online abuse within a one year period and that a significant proportion of offenders were known to the victims, reinforcing the importance of prevention, reporting and effective protection systems.
The final recommendation focused on strengthening digital literacy through education, parental engagement and community support. Participants encouraged the integration of online safety education into school curricula while promoting greater parental supervision and improved access to digital resources in underserved communities. Speakers throughout the event emphasised that protecting children online requires coordinated action from families, educational institutions, technology companies and public sector organisations. Addressing the gathering, the federal minister for human rights described child protection in the digital age as a shared responsibility and stressed the need to translate policy discussions into practical safeguards. CPWB Punjab Chairperson Sarah Ahmed highlighted the importance of timely parental guidance, while a UNICEF Pakistan representative emphasised building stronger systems that prevent abuse rather than placing the full responsibility on children. Held under the theme Safer Children | Stronger Families | A Brighter Pakistan, the dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to advancing safer digital environments through awareness, collaboration and coordinated policy efforts.
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