Come Sunday, May 17, Barbados will join the rest of the world in observing World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually on this date since 1969. It seeks to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention, in 1865.
?? Under the theme Protecting Children in Cyberspace, the day is intended to not only highlight the benefits of the internet to the development of societies worldwide, but also, to protect children from the dangers of online usage.
According to the ITU, there are over 1.5 billion internet users globally. With the development of internet resources, very often, children are exposed to many dangers because of easy access via cellphones and other wireless electronic devices.
Clerical Officer at the Telecommunications Unit, Thelma Clarke, said as part of the ITU’s efforts to safeguard children from online predators, it had introduced its Child Online Protection (COP), as a safety net.
"COP aims to bring partners together in all sectors of the global community to ensure that there is a safe and secure online experience for the children," Ms. Clarke explained.
On Monday, officials from the Telecommunications Unit distributed literature on internet safety tips to students of the Alexandra School and Society Primary School to raise awareness among Barbadian children and their parents about the risks and vulnerabilities they could encounter at the click of a mouse.