“La Strada” launches portal to promote safe Internet for children

The International Center “La Strada”, in cooperation with a number of institutions, is launching an informational portal about the risks of the Internet, safe navigation methods and protection of information in the virtual world, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the authors, the website contains divisions intended for children, parents as well as teachers. The information is available in Romanian and Russian. “The portal aims to instruct and educate the children in the online environment and to promote a safe Internet for them,” “La Strada” program coordinator Veronica Josan told a news conference on January 24. On the site, the children can find the number of the hotline which they can use to seek help when they face an Internet-related problem. They can also use the alert button, where they can transmit materials with online harassment or indecent messages, said Veronica Josan. Daniela Misail-Nichitin, president of the International Center “La Strada”, said the necessity of creating such a site appeared after they received complaints from children. “In case of abuse, the person will be told how to behave and how to have a responsible attitude for the published information. We have 25 volunteers who were trained to help the children and other persons when problems appear,” she stated. According to a study made by “La strada”, 80% of the children from urban areas and 70% of the children from rural areas have access to the Internet. Each fourth child exchanged information and photographs online with an unknown person. Each tenth child received indecent proposals of sexual character from an unknown person over the Internet. The website siguronline.md was designed in partnership with the ICT Ministry and IS MoldData within the project “Strengthening of the National Reference System for Victims and Potential Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings” that is implemented by the Mission of the International Organization for Migration in Moldova and is financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation within the CIS Anti-Trafficking Program.