Topic: 2025 – Protecting and Empowering Youth in Digital Spaces
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Ben Cook
The internet is a large part of many children’s lives all over the world. The internet can give opportunities for learning and creativity, but it can also expose the youth to serious risks. For example, misinformation, online bullying, privacy violations, and sexual exploitation. According to the UN, over 79% of young people aged 15–24 use the internet, but many lack proper digital education, making them more vulnerable to manipulation and harmful content. Children under 18, who fall under the protections of international law, face even greater risks online.
The Philippines understands both the pros and cons of the internet. The country has a very high youth internet usage rate making protections necessary, at the same time the Philippines believe that young people should be given the skills to use the internet safely.
The Philippines views both the Convention on the Rights of the Child and HRC Resolution A/HRC/57/28 as important guides for making the internet safer. These documents reinforce the idea that children need protection online, but also the room to speak, learn, and take part in the digital world. In the Philippines:
-Laws are in place like the Anti-OSAEC Act that protect against digital exploitation
-Schools are starting to add digital literacy to their curriculum
-The government partners with UNICEF, the ITU, and NGOs to improve safety and educate parents and teachers
Internationally:
-The country works with ASEAN to discuss child protection.
-The Philippines encourages technology companies to adopt stronger safety and privacy standards for youth.
Our proposed solutions include:
1. Strengthen Education and Digital Literacy by incorporating lessons on identifying misinformation, while also keeping up with the digital literacy lessons.
2. Improve Online Protection Measures by encouraging tech companies to implement child safe design like privacy settings.
3. Empower Youth Through Access and Participation by ensuring affordable internet access and safe online spaces for youth.
In conclusion, the Philippines believes that protecting children online must go hand in hand with empowering them. Young people need both safety and access in order to thrive in the digital world. The Philippines is committed to working with all nations, organizations, and communities to create digital environments that protect children’s rights and help them confidently use the internet.
