Plan calls for global collaboration to tackle online child abuse

The child-centred development organisation opened a week-long international workshop on internet-related child sexual exploitation in Bangkok on Monday. During the workshop a team of specialists from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will share vital research and knowledge with the Thai police and child protection officials to deal more effectively with online child abuse.
Protecting future generations

Maja Cubarrubia, Plan Thailand Country Director said: “As children and young adults spend more time in cyberspace for education and entertainment, it is the duty of responsible adults to protect our future generations from online sexual predators. It is time for civic groups, law enforcement and development agencies to get our act together in a fight against these shameless offenders.”

The Canadian police are part of the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) comprising law enforcement agencies from around the world working towards an effective international partnership to protect children from online abuse.

Suzanne Williams, the director of Canada-based Child Protection Partnership, said the problem of child pornography is getting worse as more and more images of children at younger age are posted online. "Our intention is to create a web of partners who can provide protection for children. The Internet has created a virtual space like a public swimming pool that children and young people are using it and yet there are no lifeguards on duty,” she said.
Stronger cooperation

Lt Gen Chatchawal Suksomjit, Assistant Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police said: “As child sexual offenders have become more technologically advanced, going into the cyberspace to prey on children, law enforcers need to equip ourselves with better understanding of new technology, modernised law and stronger cooperation with our counterparts around the world.”

He added the workshop would help Thai investigators to learn about the best techniques of evidence gathering and victim identifications to ensure that the court of justice has more than enough evidence to put offenders behind bars.