Safe Scroll dialogue concludes with five-point declaration to strengthen children’s online protection

The national policy dialogue titled Safe Scroll – Protecting Our Children Online concluded at the Mövenpick Hotel in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The national policy dialogue titled Safe Scroll – Protecting Our Children Online concluded at the Mövenpick Hotel in Islamabad after eight hours of deliberations, with participants adopting a five-point joint declaration aimed at strengthening safeguards against online exploitation, harassment and blackmailing of children.

The event, which concluded at 5pm, was jointly organised by the Ministry of Human Rights, the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) Punjab, UNICEF Pakistan and UNFPA Pakistan. It brought together policymakers, law enforcement officials, judicial representatives, media professionals, technology platforms, civil society organisations and child rights experts to discuss growing concerns about children’s safety in the digital environment.

The discussions focused on developing coordinated responses to online sexual exploitation, cyber harassment and other forms of abuse affecting children. Participants adopted a five-point declaration outlining proposed measures covering emergency reporting, judicial reforms, media awareness, platform accountability and digital education.

National helpline and reporting mechanisms

The declaration proposed consolidating existing helplines under 1121, which would be designated as the National Safe Scroll Helpline. The proposed service would offer round-the-clock assistance through calls and chat, psychological support and mechanisms for requesting the removal of harmful online content.

Proposed reforms to the justice system

Participants called for online abuse involving children to be treated as a non-compoundable offence. They also proposed accepting a single video-recorded forensic interview as admissible evidence and establishing specialised fast-track child courts, with a proposed target of resolving cases within 90 days through video-link facilities.

Media awareness and responsibility

The declaration recommended using television broadcasts to raise awareness about online child protection. Citing Section 20(e) of the PEMRA Ordinance, participants proposed recognising child online safety as a matter of national interest.

Another recommendation called for television channels to broadcast 14 minutes of awareness content daily during prime time, between 7pm and 11pm. The proposed messages would explain online safety practices and inform families about reporting mechanisms, including the proposed 1121 helpline.

Greater accountability for digital platforms

The dialogue also called for stronger safeguards on platforms including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Roblox and Discord. Proposed measures included age verification, parental controls available in Urdu and the prompt removal of child sexual abuse material and digitally manipulated deepfake content.

The declaration cited figures attributed to the Disrupting Harm 2026 report, claiming that 1.5 million children experienced online abuse within one year and that 85 per cent of offenders were known to their victims. These figures highlight the importance of prevention, reporting and effective protection mechanisms.

Digital literacy and prevention
The fifth recommendation focused on incorporating digital literacy into school curricula, encouraging parental supervision and providing essential facilities in underserved communities. Participants emphasised that children, families, educational institutions and technology providers all have roles in creating safer online environments.

Addressing the gathering, the federal minister for human rights described child protection in the digital age as a shared responsibility and called for a shift from policy commitments towards practical protection.

CPWB Punjab Chairperson Sarah Ahmed stressed the importance of parental supervision and timely guidance, while a UNICEF representative called for stronger systems designed to prevent abuse rather than placing the entire burden of avoiding risks on children.

The dialogue was held under the theme Safer Children | Stronger Families | A Brighter Pakistan. Minute Mirror served as the event’s official media partner, with a complete video package announced for publication at 9am the following day.