{"id":4513,"date":"2020-09-09T02:45:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T10:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gnrc.ziplinestaging.com\/news\/press-releases\/a-message-by-the-secretary-general-to-mark-the-un-75th-anniversary\/"},"modified":"2020-09-09T02:45:00","modified_gmt":"2020-09-09T10:45:00","slug":"a-message-by-the-secretary-general-to-mark-the-un-75th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/?p=4513","title":{"rendered":"A Message by the GNRC Secretary General to Mark the UN 75th Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Multi Faith Advisory Council to the United Nations Inter-Agency Task<\/strong>
Force on Religion and Development<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FAITH IN THE UN: A GLOBAL ONLINE CONFERENCE<\/strong>
Commemorating 75th<\/sup> Anniversary of the UN and looking to the future. 8 September 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Question:<\/span>
How can the UN secure the future of youth and children by tackling challenges related to media and the Internet?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let me begin with the story of Jessica (not her real name), a child from Asia; Jessica was sexually abused, exploited and harmed. Her pictures and videos are all over the internet. She says; (And I quote her), \u201cEvery time I see someone looking at me, I wonder if they know, if they\u2019ve seen [those] pictures.\u201d And a police officer following the trails of online abusers interviewed said, \u201cThe victims can only get so young. We have seen the abuse of babies and very, very young toddlers depicted [in online materials].\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessica is just one amongst the millions of other children that have been sexually abused, exploited and harmed\u2014physically and online. While the internet has improved connectivity, catalysed economic growth and innovation and improved education; it has also made it easier for those that seek to harm children like Jessica, across multiple jurisdictions.<\/p>\n

With reduced risk of detection on the dark web, and as the internet connectivity continue to expand\u2014so too do the online criminal networks, and sexual crimes committed against children and young people. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, more children and young people are spending more time online, thus increasing their exposure to criminals.<\/p>\n

Never before has it been easier for the criminal gangs to make contact and exploit children online. Millions of sexual abuse materials including videos and pictures, like that of Jessica, are streamed online\u2014some live.<\/p>\n

They (children) are scarred for life. They are re-victimized many times over as those images are reposted and continue to circulate online. The United Nations, together with faith communities can ensure the Dignity of Children Online.<\/p>\n

UN can work for:\"Faith<\/p>\n