The virtual world is a realm of action and influence into which
children of all social classes, cultures and regions enter from a variety of 'real world' settings. Just as they face harm in physical locations including the home, the school, the street, the workplace or the institution, the virtual world and new technologies also confront children with the risk of violence, be it physical or psychological or both.

In recognition of children's strong identification with new technologies and the virtual sphere, the Editorial Board of the United Nations Secretary-General's Study on Violence Against Children is calling for more detailed information on the harms posed to children in and via new technologies and virtual settings, including cyberspace.

Areas to be addressed within the wider study, and for which more comprehensive information is required, include the Internet and world wide web (encompassing chat rooms, news groups, bulletin boards and online games using Multi-User Dimension systems), offline electronic games, web cameras and mobile phones, and various forms of media, including entertainment media.

At the request of the study's Editorial Board, ECPAT International will co-ordinate the gathering, analysis and compilation of information on violence against children in relation to virtual settings and new technologies. The ECPAT International Secretariat is consulting widely and will bring together a multi-disciplinary group of experts to advise on the various forms of violence related to this sphere, including sexual abuse and exploitation, bullying and psychological manipulation.

ECPAT's experience in seeking to combat child pornography and to protect children against abuses in and via the online environment gives it a base of strong links and relationships with specialists who have a wide range of expertise  relevant to the virtual world. This expertise encompasses counselling and care for child victims of pornography; international and national policing to combat crimes online and
increasingly via mobile phones; legal interventions; technological developments; internet service providers and pornography-reporting hotlines. In assuming its co-ordination role for the virtual settings aspect of the violence study, therefore, ECPAT will continue to draw global attention to the necessity of ensuring children are protected in all spheres, including the virtual world.

For more information or to submit information, contact:
ECPAT International
328 Phaya Thai Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: + 66 2 215 3388; 611 0972 (Ext. 112)
Email: virtualspace-violence@ecpat.net
Website: http://www.ecpat.net

To read ECPAT's concept paper, visit:
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5349

To know more about the UN Study, visit: http://www.childrenandviolence.org