Today, at the Safer Internet Center’s counseling office, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Croatian Academic and Research Network – CARNET and the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the organization leading the national Safer Internet Center.
This agreement marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration aimed at increasing children’s online safety and educating young people about the responsible use of technology. The signing of this agreement is a significant step towards creating a safer online environment for children and youth, as well as strengthening joint efforts in the prevention of child abuse and disappearances.
As part of the cooperation, CARNET will provide technical support and resources to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, while the Center will use its extensive experience in working with children and young people to develop innovative educational programs and initiatives in partnership with CARNET.
“The signing of the cooperation agreement between CARNET and the Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the activities of the Safer Internet Center represents a major step in connecting all key stakeholders who play an important and responsible role in the education and upbringing of children and youth. By connecting and sharing experiences, we can respond more quickly and innovatively to the challenges that lie ahead in creating a safer digital environment for children,” said Tomislav Ramljak, founder and head of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
CARNET has been dedicated to raising awareness about cybersecurity for many years. The signing of this Agreement is a key step in our mission to ensure a safe online environment for young people because online safety is not just an individual responsibility but a collective obligation. Through our collaboration with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, we aim to make significant progress in protecting our children and ensuring a safer digital future for them, said CARNET CEO, Hrvoje Puljiz.
The goal of this cooperation is to empower children and young people with the knowledge and tools necessary for the safe and responsible use of the internet, as well as to support parents and teachers in their efforts to protect children from various online dangers.
In addition to the signing of the agreement, a panel discussion titled New Opportunities for Strengthening Cybersecurity was held, where experts from leading associations and organizations involved in various aspects of cybersecurity shared their experiences, predictions, and critiques. Panelists included Tomislav Ramljak, founder and head of the Safer Internet Center, Dr. Drago Žagar, president of the Croatian Institute, Hrvoje Puljiz, CEO of CARNET, Martina Dragičević, member of the Program Committee of the National Coordination Center for Industry, Technology, and Research in the Field of Cybersecurity, and Nataša Glavor, Deputy CEO of CARNET for the National CERT.
The discussion touched on the most common types of cyber incidents, the biggest challenges in protecting children online, and the current situation in Croatia on these issues. The panelists also highlighted the challenges faced by small and medium-sized companies and the non-governmental sector and what can be done to improve the protection of children and youth, as well as the education of professionals who work with them. Special attention was also given to CARNET’s BrAIn project, which started last September. The project aims to enhance the quality and duration of time students spend in the educational process by integrating digital technologies to establish a personalized approach to learning and teaching, and through the development of curricula and digital educational content in emerging digital technologies.
Let us recall that the counseling office of the Safer Internet Center, opened in March this year, has already become a key resource for providing support and advice to parents, children, and teachers.
Since 2015, the Center has been a member of the international organization Insafe, which coordinates the operation of the Helpline—a free advisory line for Safer Internet Centers across the EU.
The Helpline is intended for parents, educators, social workers, and children who face challenges related to the digital world. The helpline number is 0800 606 606 and is available on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In addition to the Helpline, the Center also operates a Hotline for reporting illegal content, such as child sexual abuse material, hate speech, and racial or other forms of discrimination, which can be anonymously reported via a form on their website.
