Topic: 2025 – Protecting and Empowering Youth in Digital Spaces
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Madison Montgomery
The Republic of Colombia recognizes that digital spaces have become very important for education, economic opportunities, expression, as well as innovation. Internet access is continuing to grow; Colombian youth can face risks of cyberbullying, misinformation, online exploitation, and unfair digital access. Colombia considers youth in digital spaces very important to its growing economic goals and its commitment to human rights and technologies.
Some of the key topics of Youth in digital spaces are big issues. Some of the biggest issues are cyberbullying, harassment, and exposure to all kinds of content. Additionally, there is often a lack of digital literacy, mostly seen in low-income communities. This is further seen in areas or communities with unequal access to secure internet and updated technology. A final issue is insufficient reporting mechanisms and fast response systems for online crimes.
Colombia has strengthened its legal protections in regards to digital spaces through Law 679 and Law 1273, which were created to mainly enhance cybersecurity. Colombia’s national program En TIC Confio was made to help teach people about cyber safety and digital citizenship. With things like Vive Digital, Colombia strives to close the digital divide by increasing internet access in areas all over.
Colombia would like to propose some solutions to help with the issues at hand. The first solution is to work on expanding cybersecurity education; if the importance of cybersecurity is talked about throughout school systems, it will be seen as the serious issue it is. Another solution for safe technology access would be increasing investments that could provide secure internet and protected technologies used in work and schools. Colombia could also work with technological companies to improve age verification, reporting tools, and moderation over some apps.
In conclusion, Colombia truly believes that Empowering Youth In Digital Spaces should require safety and limits. By using strong legislation, other businesses, expansion of digital literacy, and improving the mass of cyberbullying, Colombia tries to make an online environment where people feel safe, can learn, participate in things, and do things they want to do. The Republic of Colombia is fully committed to working with others with similar wants to work together and protect the Youth In Digital Spaces.
Sources:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1084912
https://www.mintic.gov.co/portal/inicio/Micrositios/English-overview/Vive-Digital/
https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/connecting-protecting-how-unicef-supports-childrens-futures-digital-age
