The internet and new technologies have increased sexual solicitations and child abuse.
With the pandemic there has been an increase in cases of violence, online and offline, all over the world.
This is demonstrated by the data of the Telephone Azzurro Listening and Consultancy Center 1.96.96 which recorded an average of about 6 cases per month of offline and 5 online sexual abuse (data 2020): these requests for help were received in the first place by the Lombardy (20% offline and 26% online).
From these worrying trends, the will of Telefono Azzurro to promote a confrontation between institutions, media, national and international experts and high ecclesiastical offices, on the National Day against pedophilia. In fact, it will be held today 5 May -
from 10:00 to 17:30
at Palazzo Borromeo, seat of the Embassy of Italy in the Holy See - the event "Dignity of children and adolescents at the time of the covid" an opportunity to reflect on the important steps taken in the field of the defense of minors and to highlight the importance of continuing to act together, also cooperating within the Child Dignity Alliance (alliance established following the 2017 Child Dignity in the Digital World Congress and aimed at generating global awareness on the phenomenon of CSEA - child sexual exploitation and abuse).
The event will be broadcast
live
on the website and Facebook page of
Telefono Azzurro
, the website of ANSA, Avvenire and Vatican News (media partner of the initiative).
"The biggest challenge for us adults - said Ernesto Caffo, President and Founder of Telefono Azzurro - is to ensure that young people have safe access to these technologies: the web is also frequented by perpetrators and children, especially the most vulnerable, they can easily fall prey to different types of abuse, such as sextortion, revenge porn, and online grooming. Governments, the non-profit sector, institutions, academia and civil society should join forces ”.
The event will be attended by, among others: Elena Bonetti, Minister for Equal Opportunities and the Family;
Patrizio Bianchi, Minister of Education;
Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna;
Ernesto Caffo, President of Telefono Azzurro;
Pietro Sebastiani, Ambassador of Italy to the Holy See;
Ivan Scalfarotto, Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior;
Anna Macina, Undersecretary of Justice;
Valentina Vezzali, Undersecretary for Sport;
Carla Garlatti, Guarantor Authority for children and adolescents;
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, and Adrien Taquet, Secrétaire d'État auprès du ministre des Solidarités et de la Santé, chargé de l'Enfance et des Familles.
In the afternoon we will discuss the agreement reached between Parliament and the European Council on the temporary derogation from the ePrivacy Directive.