Next Programme for Government: Joint Asks

The Children’s Rights Alliance and its members, Barnardos, CyberSafeIreland, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, One in Four, ISPCC, SpunOut.ie have joined forces to ensure that Protecting Children and Young People Online is a priority in the next Programme for Government.

The Internet has revolutionised the modern world, and in turn, the lives of children worldwide; the reality is that they make up one third of global online users. 

The next Government must act to make the online world safer for children and young people. It is also important that children and young people are educated and empowered to help them stay safe online. As they negotiate the new Programme for Government, we are calling on the parties to put online safety at the top of their agenda by:
(1) establishing a Digital Safety Commissioner;
(2) ensuring that digital citizenship, digital rights and online safety are central to the next Children and Young People’s Strategy;
(3) introducing a comprehensive digital literacy programme in formal and non-formal education at both primary and post-primary level;
(4) investigating and prosecuting online crime and
(5) limiting children and young people’s exposure to content risks online.

Read the full policy document here.