Prince Harry attacks ‘outdated legal systems’ for allowing children to be exploited online
Prince Harry has attacked “outdated legal systems” for allowing children to be exploited online.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, urged global leaders at a United Nations meeting to address protections for young people in the digital sphere with “urgency”.
Speaking in a joint video statement with the Duchess of Sussex, he said: “While the online world can help develop strategies to protect children from violence, it also introduces new risks, such as from individuals who exploit gaps in our outdated legal systems, which often don’t account for today’s digital realities.
“We know that supporting parents is essential in reducing digital violence against children, that’s why earlier this year we launched the Parents’ Network.”
The couple launched the initiative in August as a resource for parents whose children have experienced harm on social media.
Addressing the inaugural United Nations Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá, Colombia, the Sussexes spoke about their mission and warned that the world is at a “crossroads” to address it.
Archewell
“The first-ever ministerial conference on ending violence against children comes at a crucial time, and quite frankly, should not be required, but here we are,” the Duke said in the video, in which he wore a dark suit with a poppy pin on his left lapel.
He continued: “We are at a crossroads where the urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident. While the necessity has always been apparent, it is now time to translate that awareness into meaningful action.”
His comments come after the couple have been increasingly campaigning for more rigorous controls of the digital sphere this past year.
They have previously discussed the threats posed by fake news and online abuse and bullying during their visit to Columbia in August, where they attended a two-and-a-half-hour Responsible Digital Future forum.
Speaking in the video, which marks the couple’s first joint appearance since their trip to the country this summer, the Duchess warned that advancing technology has the potential to “misshape our connections”.
Wearing a navy blazer with a poppy pin, she said: “At the Archewell Foundation, we engage with young people, families, and experts worldwide learning how every aspect of a child’s life… now operate within an online economy that has the power to both shape, and misshape, our connections.”
The Duke of Sussex also outlined the couple’s support through their new initiative, explaining that they help parents come together to forge stronger bonds “through trauma-informed practices”.
The Duchess added that the stories they have heard from parents have “helped us to understand that as we better equip parents and caregivers… we must also commit to establishing standards that prioritise children’s safety.”
The couple ended the video by thanking the governments and leaders from around the world who are attending the conference in Columbia that is dedicated to finding urgent solutions to end all forms of violence against children.
The Duke also issued a call to action, saying: “Young people are calling for help. Families are desperately seeking support.
“They are urging us to leverage the resources in this room to confront the new reality our youth are facing.”
“Together, we can harness this moment to drive lasting change,” the Duchess concluded.
