Saudi Arabia to Host Child Protection in Cyberspace Global Summit on October 2-3

Saudi Arabia will host the Child Protection in Cyberspace (CPC) Global Summit in Riyadh this October 2-3, 2024, in conjunction with the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF), held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Summit, organized by GCF and the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA), in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the DQ Institute, and WeProtect Global Alliance, aims to lay the foundations for international cooperation to build a safe and empowering cyberspace for children around the world, with the participation of a high-level group of international decision makers, representatives of governments, international organizations, the private sector, and key stakeholders. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said: 'Protecting children online is a shared responsibility. With today's children spending an increasing amount of time online, it is more crucial than ever to protect and empower them. The Child Protection in Cyberspace Global Summit will bring together leaders from all sectors to ensure our youngest users can thrive online.' "We must work together to make the internet a safe place for children to learn, socialize and express themselves,' said Executive Director of UNICEF Catherine Russell. 'This Summit marks an important opportunity to coordinate global efforts to maximize the benefits of digital technology in children's lives while protecting them from harm.' Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority Eng. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Mazyed stressed that the CPC Global Summit will bring together key stakeholders in this field, adding: 'We are gathering in Riyadh because we all recognize that, as the risks to children in Cyberspace grow in number and complexity, we must collaborate to develop innovative forms of partnerships to advance our collective efforts to protect them.' The summit will address key topics around child protection in Cyberspace and aims to spur initiatives that will unify efforts in order to achieve maximum impact, thereby addressing a challenge that has become more pressing in the context of the increasing use of modern technologies by children. 'What we need today is coordinated, multistakeholder collaboration that enhances not only children's safety and well-being in Cyberspace, but also their cyber literacy, as our highest priority,' said the founder of the DQ Institute Dr. Yuyhun Park Executive Director of WeProtect Global Alliance Iain Drennan stressed the urgency of the issue: 'Child exploitation is an urgent and growing problem. We need to focus on preventing harm and work together for a Cyberspace that is designed to be safer to protect children across the globe from exploitation.' The Institute for the Global Cybersecurity Forum, which was established by Royal Decree in 2023 as an independent institution, seeks to strengthen global cyber resilience by advancing international collaboration, purposeful dialogue, and impactfu l initiatives. It serves as a platform where the world's cybersecurity stakeholders exchange knowledge and collaborate in tackling critical issues regarding Cyberspace. By uniting decision makers and thought leaders from around the world, GCF aligns with international efforts to build a more prosperous and secure Cyberspace for all nations and communities. This year's edition of the GCF Annual Meeting is held under the theme 'Advancing Collective Action in Cyberspace,' and will feature dialogue and participatory sessions that address five sub-themes: Beyond Cyber Discord; Thriving Cyber Economy; Cyber Social Fabric: Cyber Psychology; and New Cyber Frontier. Source: Saudi Press Agency