The UAE’s Ministry of Interior initiated the ‘Hemayati’ (My Protection) campaign aimed at protecting the children from online abuse. This campaign, spearheaded by the Child Protection Centre, is to enlighten the public about the dangers of unethical individuals that make friends with the young internet users.
The campaign discourages the practice of ‘grooming’, which is a process where people build relationships with kids for the purpose of exploiting them. It warns against meeting online ‘friends’ in real life, highlighting the necessity of parental supervision of online activities and applying safety measures which include strong passwords, antivirus protection, monitoring of e-shopping activities.
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Furthermore, the campaign encourages the use of webcam covers when not in use, as well as parental controls and safe search tools for children. It warns parents about the dangers of using free online resources and suggests that any website used by the children should be a trusted one.
In addition to the campaign, the Ministry organized a security community forum whose sole purpose was to promote collaboration among national institutions and agencies as they fight cybercrimes against children. The forum exhibited the Hemayati app, which serves as a communication and child protection tool for families.
The forum was conducted through presentations from legal experts and participation of students, teachers, and representatives of different organisations. The campaign, which was launched on the occasion of Safer Internet Day, is a clear manifestation of the organization’s dedication to providing children with a safe online platform by raising awareness and bringing together all sectors.
