‘L-iStati Membri kollha tal-Unjoni Ewropea għandhom jaddottaw politika proattiva fil-ġlieda kontra l-abbuż online tal-minuri biex nipprevenu milli ssir il-ħsara.’ Qalet dan l-MEP Maltija Miriam Dalli waqt laqgħa li organizzat ma’ l-istakeholders lokali li jiġġieldu dan l-abbuż, fosthom l-Uffiċċju tal-Kummissarju għat–Tfal, l-Awtorità ta’ Malta dwar il-Kommunizjoni (MCA), rappreżentanti tas-Cyber Crime fi ħdan il-Korp tal-Pulizija, u l-Aġenzija Appoġġ.
Il-laqgħa saret ġewwa l-Uffiċċju tal-Kummissarju għat-Tfal u saret bħala parti minn konsultazzjoni wiesgħa li Miriam Dalli qed tagħmel ma’ stakeholders Maltin u barranin qabel tippreżenta proposti u emendi lill-Parlament Ewropew, fuq ir-rapport dwar l-implimentazzjoni tad-direttiva li permezz tagħha jiġi miġġieled l-abbuż u l-esplojtazzjoni sesswali tat-tfal onlajn. Miriam Dalli hi l-kelliema ewlenija tas-Soċjalisti u Demokratiċi fuq dan ir-rapport li qiegħed quddiem il-kumitat tal-Libertajiet Ċivili. Ir-rapport se jkollu wkoll opinjonijiet minn kumitati oħra.
‘Ġenituri, tfal u edukaturi għandhom ikollhom diskussjoni franka dwar ir-riskji li l-internet jista’ jġib miegħu. Hemm bżonn li tingħata aktar saħħa lill-organizazzjonijiet li jistghu jaħdmu biex jipprevjenu l-ħsara milli ssir. Huwa inutli li nibqgħu nirreaġixxu biss wara li l-abbuż fuq it-tfal ikun sar, għaliex il-ħsara lit-tfal tkun diġa saret. Hemm bżonn li nintroduċu sistemi fejn persuni li jistgħu ikunu huma li jagħmlu dan l-abbuż jiġu identifikati u jingħataw l-għajnuna qabel ma’ ssir il-ħsara,’ qalet Miriam Dalli.
Il-laqgħa bejn l-istakeholders u l-MEP Maltija ffukat fuq numru ta’ aspetti nteressanti fosthom l-edukazzjoni, il-ħtieġa ta’ aktar għarfien, l-għajnuna professjonali, għajnuna lill-vittmi u anke’ l-ħtieġa ta’ liġijiet b’saħħithom li jwaqqfu dan it-tip t’abbuż. Issemmew ukoll proposti ta’ kif jista’ jkun hemm koperazzjoni bejn organizazzjonijiet u l-pulizija fid-diversi Stati Membri biex din it-tip ta’ nformazzjoni ma tkomplix tinfirex.
Saret referenza wkoll għal trend ġdida li qed tiżviluppa fejn ikunu l-minuri stess li jxerrdu ritratti indiċenti tagħhom. Dwar dan enfasizzat ukoll il-Kummissarju għatat-tfal Pauline Miceli li sostniet li, ‘jeħtieġ li nipprevjenu każijiet futuri billi nżidu l-għarfien dwar il-fatt li ladarba jkun hemm ritratti jew filmati, dik il-persuna titlef kwalunkwe kontroll ta’ x’jista’ jsir minn dan il-materjal. It-tfal u ż-żgħażagħ għandhom dritt li jkollhom aċċess għat-teknoloġija u l-opportunitajiet li din toffri; iżda hu dover tagħna li niżguraw li għandna l-istrutturi neċessarji biex nipproteġuhom,’ temmet tgħid il-Kummissarju.
The need for proactive rather than reactive policies to protect children online – MEP Miriam Dalli
‘All EU Member States need to adopt a proactive approach in their fight against child online abuse to prevent more harm being done,’ MEP Miriam Dalli said in a meeting with local stakeholders which are involved in combatting child exploitation and online abuse.
The meeting formed part of a wide consultation undertaken by Dr Dalli prior to her submission of various proposals and legislative amendments to the European Parliament, on the implementation report on the directive which tackles child abuse and child exploitation online. Dalli is the Socialists & Democrats’ main spokesperson on this report. The stakeholders included the Office of the Commissioner for Children, Malta Communications Authority (MCA), representatives from the Cyber Crime Unit within the Malta Police Force, and Appoġġ.
‘Parents, children and educators should have a frank discussion on risks associated with the use of internet. Stakeholders need to be empowered to be able to prevent more harm being done. We cannot just keep reacting after an abuse takes place as it would be too late. We need to introduce an adequate system which identifies potential perpetrators and give them the necessary help before more harm is done,’ Miriam Dalli said.
The meeting between the relevant stakeholders and Dr Dalli focused on various aspects such as the need for more awareness, education, professional assistance, victims’ support, and the need for stronger legislation to deter this type of abuse. Proposals were also made to explore greater cooperation between organisations and law enforcement bodies to control and halt the distribution of such material.
Reference was also made to the latest trend of self-made material which is distributed by minors themselves. In this regard, Commissioner for Children Pauline Miceli argued that we need to ‘prevent future cases by creating more awareness on the fact that minors lose control when they forward such material to third parties. Children have a right to access the new technologies and to take advantage of the opportunities they offer; however it is our duty to ensure that all the necessary structures are in place in order to protect them,’ Commissioner Miceli concluded.
