On the National Day against Pedophilia, this Embassy hosted in the cloister and garden of Palazzo Borromeo the event “The dignity of children and adolescents in the days of Covid 19”, organized with Telefono Azzurro.
The meeting aimed to promote a dialogue between institutions, media, national and international experts, also from the world of technology companies, in order to find concrete solutions in response to the exponential increase of grooming and solicitation of children and adolescents. Such a phenomenon is linked to the numerous risks related to the Internet and the new digital technologies, especially in these times of pandemic and increased online exposure.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in the defense of minors, thanks also to the Child Dignity Alliance. The Alliance was established after the 2017 “Child Dignity in the Digital World” Congress – hosted by the “Center for the Child Protection” of the Pontifical Gregorian University – and aimed at developing a global awareness of the phenomenon of sexual exploitation and abuse of minors.
Prof. Ernesto Caffo, President and Founder of Telefono Azzurro and member of the Pontifical Commission for the protection of minors, opened the morning session that was moderated by Monica Maggioni, former RAI President and journalist.
In his opening address, Ambassador Sebastiani thanked Telefono Azzurro and the many volunteers and supporters of the association for their work adding: “As Italians we do not often realize the extraordinary abundance – among the many that we have, and that we often underestimate – represented by those 7, 8, 9 million people who every day, in this country, dedicate with spontaneous altruism their time, their passion, their commitment and even their money to the others, the weakest and the youngest in particular. Without this network of solidarity and humanity, entire sectors of our society would not withstand the many difficulties”.
Several experts from the world of institutions and law enforcement participated to the event: Patrizio Bianchi, Minister of Education (remotely); Elena Bonetti, Minister for Equal Opportunities and the Family; Ivan Scalfarotto, Undersecretary of the Interior; Licia Ronzulli, Senator, President of the Bicameral Commission on Childhood and Adolescence; Carla Garlatti, Authority for children and adolescents; Simonetta Matone, Deputy Attorney General at the Court of Appeal of Rome; Giovanni Russo, Deputy Prosecutor of the National Anti-Mafia Directorate; Marina Contino, First Director of the Central Anti-Crime Service of the State Police; Guido Scorza, member of the Authority for the protection of personal data; Maria Monteleone, member of the Superior Council of Magistracy and of the Senate Commission of Inquiry into femicide.
Agostino Santoni, Vice President, Southern Europe, CISCO and Giuseppe Magno, professor of Legislation for the protection of children and adolescents, La Sapienza University of Rome, also took part.
For the ecclesiastical side, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna (remotely) and Monsignor Lorenzo Ghizzoni, Archbishop of Ravenna and Cervia, President of the National Service for the protection of minors of the Italian Episcopal Conference (remotely) participated. Cardinal O’Malley (remotely) illustrated the important activity of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The Vatican Secretary of State Card. Parolin sent a message to reaffirm the “inestimable value of life and dignity of the youngsters and most defenseless” and “the duty of a more incisive approach to the education of the younger generations, a radical rejection of all violence and oppression to the detriment of minors”.
During the first of the two afternoon sessions, participants discussed the main actions implemented at European and international level to strengthen the fight against offline and online abuse. The issue of the increasing number of websites hosting images or videos depicting sexual abuse (Child Sexual Abuse Material, CSAM) was addressed with the remote participation of representatives of large IT companies (Google, Microsoft, Facebook).
During the second session, moderated by Hans Zollner, Professor at the Gregorian University, Director of the Center for Child Protection, the effects of these abuses on mental health and the importance of involving families and schools in raising awareness on the issue of abuse and sexual exploitation were discussed.
The event, streamed live on the Telefono Azzurro Facebook page and through the Vatican News YouTube channel, is also available on the following link: https://youtu.be/vCA4Kz9VIVA.
For the complete program, see https://azzurro.it/news_eventi/5-maggio/.
Photo Credit: Telefono Azzurro Onlus
