The ISPCC welcomes the commencement by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee today, Safer Internet Day 2021, of Coco’s Law – the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act.
Such legislation will help to protect children and young people from the significant and lasting harm which is often caused by the sharing of such images, which often leads to cyberbullying, online harassment and the further non-consensual sharing of these images.
The ISPCC looks forward to partaking in the Safer Internet Day 2021 online launch event today, as a partner of the Irish Safer Internet Centre.
The Irish Safer Internet Centre exists to promote a safer and better use of the internet and digital technologies among children and young people. Co-ordinated by the Department of Justice, the Irish Safer Internet Centre partners are: ISPCC Childline, Webwise, Hotline.ie and the National Parents Council (NPC) Primary.
A panel discussion taking place as part of today’s event will highlight the significance of the complimentary work of each of the partners working together for a safer internet.
This will follow addresses by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Labour Party Deputy Brendan Howlin TD, who first introduced the piece of legislation in 2017 and Jackie Fox, the mother of a 21-year-old young woman who died by suicide after being bullied on social media.
Safer Internet Day is an annual event organised by the Insafe / INHOPE network of European Safer Internet Centres (SICs), with the support of the European Commission, which has taken place in February each year since 2004.
The Irish Safer Internet Centre will deliver a series of free #BeKindOnline webinars for parents, teachers and education stakeholders this week, to share support, information and guidance on children’s and young people’s online safety.
For details and to register, see here.
ISPCC Childline is always here for any child or young person up to age 18 in Ireland who would like to talk about any issue on their mind. Childline can be reached online at Childline.ie or by calling 1800 66 66 66.
The ISPCC also provides a Support Line service for parents and carers. For details, see here.
For more information, articles and videos about online safety, visit our Digital Ready Hub.
