Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police, in collaboration with UNICEF, organised the JUVENTICA – Digital Rights & Safety of Children Conclave at Police Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, bringing together policymakers, senior police officials, educators, parents, students and child rights experts to address the growing challenges children face in the digital world.
The conclave focused on safeguarding children’s rights and well-being as they increasingly engage with digital platforms. Participants discussed how institutions, families and communities can work together to ensure safer online environments for young users.
Addressing the gathering, Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, Director General of Police, highlighted the evolving responsibilities of law enforcement in tackling cyber threats against children. He said the police are strengthening cyber safety awareness and investigative capacity by setting up 20 additional Cyber Police Stations across districts and engaging cyber experts to support field investigations. He also noted that 71 police stations have been upgraded with child-friendly corners, with a commitment to make the entire police system in Odisha more child-friendly.
Vinaytosh Mishra, DGP of CID-Crime Branch, pointed to the rising complexity of cyber threats targeting children. He noted that India’s internet user base has grown from around 125 million in 2011 to over 845 million in 2021, making online child protection an increasingly critical responsibility. He highlighted the work of the Children and Women Online Abuse Monitoring Unit in removing child sexual exploitation and abuse material and other harmful content from the internet.
Additional DGP Shyni S. emphasised the need for prevention and awareness alongside enforcement, stressing that children, parents and teachers must be equipped with the knowledge to use the internet safely and responsibly.
Speaking on the importance of a rights-based approach, Prasanta Kumar Dash, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Odisha, said children should be placed at the centre of discussions on digital safety, noting that young people are not merely users but active creators and leaders in the digital space.
The event featured fireside conversations with celebrities and influencers on how online culture and social media trends shape the aspirations and identities of adolescents. Three thematic panel discussions examined the role of policing in online child protection, the influence of digital platforms on young minds, and issues of privacy, consent and digital boundaries.
During the conclave, several institutional commitments were announced. The Odisha Police proposed initiatives including the Rakshya Saathi volunteer programme, enhanced training for Child Welfare Police Officers and stronger engagement with schools.
The School and Mass Education Department also pledged to introduce digital safety education in schools, promote digital hygiene and psychosocial first aid for children facing online harm, and encourage digital safety initiatives as a standard practice in educational institutions.
Additionally, Odisha Police and the department jointly committed to involving Child Welfare Police Officers in schools through participation in parent-teacher meetings and school management committees, while UNICEF Odisha will develop a training curriculum to support their effective engagement.
