Te Protejo: Protecting the children of Colombia

In the June 2018 edition of the BIK bulletin, we look at hotline trends and issues, hearing also from various members of the INHOPE hotline network. Here, we hear from the Colombian hotline on its work to protect the nation's children.

Date 2018-06-27 Author Red PaPaz - Te Protejo, the Colombian hotline Section awareness, hotlines
Infographic on hotline actions from Te Protego, the Colombian hotline.In 2017, Red PaPaz - Te Protejo the Colombian hotline, received 5,187 reports of suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and forwarded 2,647 reports containing potentially illegal content to the Colombian law enforcement (Cyber Centre of the National Police - CCP) to be analysed within its legal framework. Consequently, 2,715 blocking orders were emitted. The hotline processed the illegal content via the ICCAM platform (INHOPE's technology platform for supporting hotlines in their reporting and referral roles, including categorisation and hashing of content) obtaining 19,641 images and videos of which 41.3 per cent were internationally illegal (672) and nationally illegal (7,453).
 
Additionally, the Colombian government fined 45 internet service providers (ISPs) a total of €30,900 for not blocking illegal material following a notification to take down illegal content. The financial penalties received were channelled to the Fund Against Commercial Child Sexual Exploitation that prevents crimes against children.
 
Since 2017, as part of the economic grant received from the End Violence Against Children Fund, Red PaPaz, UNICEF Colombia and Fundación Renacer (ECPAT) have been working together to implement the WePROTECT Model National Response by strengthening 11 of the 21 capabilities established to prevent and tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). This project will strengthen criminal justice protocols, increase cooperation with the online industry, reinforce Te Protejo as the national hotline to report CSAM, provide tools to protect children online, and promote the use of the terminology established in the Luxembourg Guidelines. In Colombia, the implementation of these guidelines has to include changes in legislation, which currently includes terms such as "child pornography" or "sexual tourism", and also in public opinion.
 
In September 2017, Red PaPaz designed a programme for journalists to create awareness about the importance of publishing ethical and responsible articles, especially those related to situations of child sexual abuse and exploitation preventing continued re-victimisation while also promoting the use of Te Protejo as a hotline that deals with illegal content online. In four months, 155 journalists and media directors attended these workshops.
 
Furthermore, the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications, through its strategy "En TIC Confío" (In ICT I trust), adopted the terminology guidelines and through their events, have reached more than 887,698 people in the country to promote the responsible use of the internet and new technologies, inviting them to also use Te Protejo.
 
For further information, please see the INHOPE website or the Red PaPaz or Te Protejo websites.

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