Saudi holds conference to fight child sexual exploitation

Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Nayef has called on the Saudi Arabian authorities to establish a centre for cyber safety in order to protect children at risk of sexual exploitation, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.

Speaking at a major Saudi conference for the prevention of child sexual abuse, specifically focused on internet exploitation, the Crown Prince chaired an event that concluded with over 20 draft recommendations.

The recommendations focused on raising awareness of internet safety among children and teenagers in the school curriculum. The draft recommendations also called for supporting national efforts aimed at preventing online grooming, along with increased internet surveillance.

The forum also called for the development of a national strategy to protect children online, in addition to strictly implementing national regulations and legislation suggested by international non-governmental organisations. The forum agreed that Saudi Arabia could learn from and adapt successful models from other parts of the world, and called for their adoption following modifications to fit with the Arab and Islamic customs of the oil-rich monarchy.

Conference organisers have suggested that the forum will be held on a regular basis in order to continue to review policy for the protection of children online in the kingdom.