The guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the
digital environment were adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe on 4 July 2018.
This publication contains the recommendations, addressed to all member
states of the Council of Europe, followed by useful, thematically directed
sections to guide states on fundamental principles and rights, operational
principles and measures to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the
child in the digital environment, national frameworks and international
co-operation and co-ordination.
The purpose of the guidelines is to assist states and other relevant
stakeholders in their efforts to adopt a comprehensive, strategic
approach in building and containing the often complex world of the
digital environment. Ensuring children’s interaction and safety in this
environment is paramount.
Among the many topics covered are the
protection of personal data, provision of child-friendly content adapted
to their evolving capacities, helplines and hotlines, vulnerability and
resilience, as well as the role and responsibilities of business enterprises.
In addition, the guidelines call upon states to engage with children,
including in decision-making processes, to ensure that national policies
adequately address developments in the digital environment.
These guidelines are of interest to a very wide audience, ranging from
national authority bodies, professionals, civil society, business and
industry sectors, to families and children themselves.
