Social Development Minister attends GCC session on child protection in digital world

Manama, May 22 (BNA): A high-level Gulf dialogue session titled "Protecting Our Children in the Digital World" was held with the participation of senior officials and specialists in childhood policy and programming from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as representatives of official and civil society entities concerned with child protection. The session was organised by the Executive Office of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Council of Ministers of Social Affairs.

Osama bin Saleh Al Asfoor, Minister of Social Development, attended the session and highlighted the importance of strengthening GCC cooperation to ensure a safe digital environment that safeguards children’s rights. He outlined the Kingdom of Bahrain’s efforts to advance legislation and policies focused on child protection, including the implementation of the Restorative Justice Law for Children and Protection from Mistreatment, the establishment of the Child Protection Centre, and the activation of the Child Helpline (998).

The minister also referred to the national awareness campaign "Himayah" launched in partnership with the Public Prosecution and other stakeholders which aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of online exploitation and blackmail. He stressed the need for a unified Gulf framework to protect children in the digital space through coordinated efforts among governments, educational institutions, families, and technology companies.

The session also featured a presentation by the Ministry of Interior on Bahrain’s digital protection initiatives, showcasing key security and social programmes aimed at children.

Additionally, the Ministry of Social Development submitted a working paper on digital child protection as part of efforts to enhance joint action and promote knowledge exchange among GCC states.