ACTIVITIES :: Safer Internet Programme :: Events

Events

Every year the European Commission supports two major events on Safer Internet: Safer Internet Day and Safer Internet Forum.

In October 2010 the Commission launched the European Award for Best Children's Online Content. This competition aims at highlighting existing and promoting the production of new online content for 6 to 12 year olds.

Safer Internet Forum: bringing stakeholders together

The Safer Internet Forum is a European conference for representatives of industry, law enforcement authorities, child welfare organisations and policy makers to exchange experience and knowledge. It provides a platform for national co-regulatory or self-regulatory bodies to discuss ways in which industry can contribute to creating a safer online environment for children and fight against distribution of illegal content, such as child abuse material.

The European Commission has been organizing the Safer Internet Forum every year since 2004.

See more on the Safer Internet Forum and previous editions

Safer Internet Day: promoting a Safer Internet worldwide

Safer Internet Day is part of a global drive to promote a safer Internet for all users, especially young people. This event organized by INSAFE and supported by the European Union through the Safer Internet Programme has been celebrated since 2004 in a growing number of countries.

The 2012 edition of Safer Internet Day will take place on 7 February with the theme "Connecting generations and educating each other".

See previous editions of Safer Internet Day

European Award for Best Children's Online Content 2010-2011

This is a competition highlighting existing and promoting the production of new online content for 6 to 12 year olds. It is open for entries from adults (professional producers, private individuals etc) and young people between 12 and 17 years old.

14 countries are taking part in the competition, which will be organised in two steps. National competitions, organized by the respective Safer Internet Centres, take place between October 2010 and April 2011. The first prize winners then compete on European level for the European trophy, which will be awarded during a ceremony in June 2011.

Find out more about the competition, participating countries and rules of participation

Find out who are the winners of the 2011 European Award of 2011

Why is the Commission organizing this competition?

Ministerial conference Safer Internet for Children: Fighting Together against Illegal Content and Conduct On-line, 20 April 2009

On 20 April 2009 the Czech Presidency of the European Union organized a ministerial conference on safer internet for children with the support of the European Commission. The conference brought together stakeholders acting in the field of internet safety: governmental representatives, NGOs, social networking providers, mobile operators, law enforcement representatives, Internet Service Providers and researchers.

Government representatives present at this conference adopted the Prague declaration which engages Member States in supporting the leading role of the European Union in ensuring a safe online environment for young people and combating child sexual abuse material. Switzerland and Norway have also joined this declaration.

The programme of the conference also included 3 workshops on the following topics:

Cyber bullying. During this workshop researchers, NGO representatives and companies discussed a phenomena that touches more and more young people in the EU: bullying by peers with the help of mobile technologies.
Self-regulation of mobile operators. Mobile operators signed in 2007 the European Framework for safer mobile use by younger teenagers and children. In April 2009 the GSM Association has issued an implementation report whose findings have been discussed with the industry and NGO representatives during the workshop.
Self-regulation of social networking providers In February 2009, major social networking providers active in Europe have signed the "Safer Social Networking Principles for the EU". Signatories have also talked about the implementation of the Principles during the workshop together with NGO representatives, sharing their experiences and trying to find effective solutions of keeping children safe online.

The presentations given during the conference are now available

Read further information and see pictures