National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) collaborated with UNICEF Pakistan, National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), PTA, and Telenor Pakistan to organize the Child Online Safety Camp 2025. The initiative brought together Child Advisory Members (CAP) from across the country in an effort to strengthen awareness around safe online practices for children and young internet users. Designed as an engaging and interactive learning experience, the camp served as a vital platform to promote digital literacy, encourage responsible online behavior, and highlight practical measures to tackle growing risks in the cyber domain.
The camp featured an array of creative and educational activities such as ice-breaking exercises, quizzes, interactive Q&A sessions, and workshops that encouraged children to actively participate and learn about the importance of digital safety. Activities like sticker design and hashtag creation allowed children to creatively express their understanding of safe online practices, while awareness videos and role plays performed by CAP members reinforced lessons in a way that resonated with young participants. The sessions highlighted crucial issues including cyberbullying, harassment, hate speech, and the growing need for stronger reporting mechanisms. Mr. Khurram Javed, Director Capacity Building at National CERT, stressed the importance of online safety measures and encouraged children to remain alert to the dangers they may face in the digital space. His remarks emphasized that awareness and education are central to ensuring children can use the internet responsibly and with confidence.
Adding further depth to the event, a panel discussion brought together key representatives from PTA, NCRC, Telenor Pakistan, Child Protection Institute, Digital Rights Foundation, and National CERT. The discussion revolved around existing challenges and evolving strategies for ensuring safe internet use by children. The inclusion of diverse stakeholders highlighted the collaborative approach required to address online risks while fostering an environment that balances access to technology with responsible use. To complement these discussions, a mental health awareness session was delivered by Ms. Asma Humayun from the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. This session underscored the mental health impact of online exposure and the need for supportive mechanisms to ensure that children not only remain safe digitally but also emotionally resilient in dealing with negative online encounters.
In addition, the camp featured a virtual session by experts from Meta, who shared insights on the safe use of social media and messaging applications. The session addressed privacy protection policies, governance standards, and content moderation practices that can shield children from harmful online content. Emphasis was placed on the importance of safeguarding personal information, raising awareness about misuse of data, and educating children on recognizing unsafe interactions online. This session brought a global perspective to the camp, connecting local efforts with international standards for child online safety.
The event concluded with an energetic and inspiring digital safety song performance by CAP members, reinforcing the key lessons from the camp in a memorable way. The collaborative spirit between National CERT, UNICEF, NCRC, PTA, Telenor Pakistan, and other partners demonstrated a strong commitment to building a safer digital environment for children. By integrating awareness, education, and creative engagement, the Child Online Safety Camp 2025 marked an important step in ensuring that children across Pakistan are better equipped to navigate the digital world securely and responsibly.
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