RC Remarks at the Child Online Protection Information Session in the Pacific

Before I start my remarks, I would like to offer my apologies as I may have to disconnect soon after since we have a tsunami warning, including for Pacific Islands Countrie,s following a strong EQ 8.7 close to Kamchatka, Russian Federation, and we need to keep an eye on this.  
 

I am pleased to join you today for this important session on Child Online Protection in the Pacific.  Many thanks to ITU, UNICEF, UNOPS, and all national partners for making this initiative possible.  

Today, children are spending more time online than ever – learning, connecting, expressing themselves. This creates new opportunities. But also new threats.  Cyber-bullying – Exploitation – Misinformation - Harmful Content.  The digital world can be empowering – but it can also be unsafe.  That is why the Child Online Protection programme is so critical.  

It aligns with the Smart Villages and Smart Islands initiative. It ensures digital transformation is not only inclusive, but also safe.  Raising awareness is a good start. But it is not enough. We must back it with services – on the ground, where children live and learn.  Teachers. Social Workers. Frontline responders. They all need tools and training.  And we must recognize that what happens online is often linked to what happens offline.  

Abuse and exploitation do not stay in one space. 

Here in the Pacific, the UN is working closely with governments, civil society, and communities. Our goal is simple: protect children, wherever they are – on screen and off.  This session is part of that commitment. It brings us together to learn, to act, and to improve. 

Because child protection is not just a social issue – it is a development issue. It is central to the Sustainable Development Goals. It also echoes the UN Secretary-General’s Common Agenda – to put people, especially youth, at the center of our digital future. 

I commend all of you here – policymakers, educators, youth leaders, and digital experts – for stepping up.  Let us keep working together to create a digital Pacific that is safe, inclusive, and empowering – for every child.  

Every child deserves to be safe, heard, and protected – whether online or offline, in every home, every school, and every corner of the Pacific. 

Vinaka Vakalevu, Dhanyavaad, Thank You