Within the framework of the festival’s Rights Now! Human Rights Program, the DOCU/CLUB Network co-organized the workshop and discussion on countering sexual abuse of children on the Internet, which is one of the most painful and silenced contemporary issues.

The workshop “How to recognize and counter sexual abuse of children on the Internet” brought together educators, parents, volunteers, and film club moderators working with human rights issues. Speakers of the event were Mariana Hevko, psychologist and expert of the information campaign “Sexual Abuse on the Internet: How to Protect Children,” and Evelina Chornobay, lawyer at the NGO “La Strada Ukraine.”

Anastasiya Bahalika, Mariana Hevko, Evelina Chornobay

Workshop participants learned about types of online sexual abuse, threat detection strategies, methods of communicating with children about safe use of digital platforms, as well as the legal liability for online sexual abuse under Ukrainian law. Special attention was dedicated to preventive work within communities and the role of film clubs in raising awareness on this issue.

The next event was a panel discussion titled “Moving Toward European Standards: How Can We Protect Children from Sexual Abuse on the Internet?” It brought together leading experts in the fields of children’s rights protection, digital transformation, law, and psychology, including: Daria Herasymchuk, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation of Ukraine; Yaroslava Dyo, Head of the Expert Group on Digitalization of Education at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine; Mariana Hevko, psychologist and expert of the information campaign “Sexual Abuse on the Internet: How to Protect Children”; and Oleksiy Sydorenko, Head of the Child Abuse Prevention Program at the All-Ukrainian NGO “Magnolia.”

Panel discussion “Moving Toward European Standards: How To Protect Children from Sexual Abuse on the Internet?” 

Participants of the discussion addressed the issue of Ukrainian children’s digital vulnerability and explored European standards for child protection online, along with relevant amendments of Ukrainian legislation.
The experts emphasized that effective prevention of cybercrimes is impossible without cross-sectoral cooperation among the education system, law enforcement, civil society initiatives, and the media. Calls were made for the development of a comprehensive national strategy for protection of children online, grounded in best practices of the European Union.

A key part of the discussion was the presentation of the information campaign “Sexual Abuse on the Internet: How to Protect Children”, implemented by the NGO Docudays and the All-Ukrainian NGO “Magnolia.” The campaign comprises expansion of a network of partner events, specialized training for educators and parents, and the active use of documentary films as tools for raising the awareness and fostering of critical thinking among children and adolescents.

Once again, the NGO Docudays proves that documentary cinema is not only a form of art but also a powerful instrument for social action. The issue of children's safety in the digital environment is a challenge that must unite us all.

The development of the DOCU/CLUB Network is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Fondation de France.

The opinions, conclusions or recommendations are those of the authors and compilers of this publication and do not necessarily reflect the views of the governments or charitable organizations of these countries. The authors and compilers are solely responsible for the content of this publication.