Geneva, 3 September 2026 — The Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue convened a Diplomatic Breakfast on Artificial Intelligence and Children’s Rights, titled “Growing Up Online: Protecting Children’s Rights in the Digital Age”, bringing together diplomatic representatives from MENA countries, UN experts and practitioners to discuss the impact of AI and digital technologies on children’s rights, safety and participation, including Dr Philip D. Jaffé, Professor (Emeritus) at the University of Geneva and Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ms Fanny Rotino, Child Rights Specialist, Child Online Protection Officer at ITU, and Ms Gina Bergh, Digital Tech and Human Rights Section, Thematic and Special Procedures Division, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The discussion highlighted that the international framework for protecting children in the digital environment already exists, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment No. 25. The key challenge, participants stressed, is implementation, as technological developments continue to outpace regulatory and institutional responses. Speakers emphasized the obligation of governments to regulate effectively, and the responsibility of technology companies to respect children’s rights, including by ensuring that children’s rights and safety are integrated into the design and development of digital productsParticipants noted that many online harms are influenced by design choices and commercial incentives, underscoring the need for child rights impact assessments and effective safeguards before products are deployed.
The exchange also examined age assurance, social media bans and parental controls, with participants cautioning against relying on restrictive measures as stand-alone solutions. Bans can be circumvented, while parental controls cannot replace broader systemic protections. Measures should therefore be evidence-based and proportionate, while safeguarding children’s rights to privacy, information, participation and agency. The human dimension of digital harm was also central to the discussion. Participants highlighted children’s exposure to harmful content and serious risks, as well as the barriers that can prevent them from seeking help, including fear of punishment and a lack of trust in available support mechanisms.
The discussion further underscored the importance of international and regional cooperation, recognising that fragmented national approaches cannot adequately address challenges that transcend borders. Stronger collaboration among States, UN entities, civil society and the private sector is essential to ensure consistent protection for children across the digital environment.
The Diplomatic Breakfast concluded with a shared understanding that “safety should be the floor, not the ceiling”: children must be protected from harm while retaining their rights to participate meaningfully in the digital world. Participants reaffirmed the need for coordinated, rights-based approaches to ensure that technological innovation advances, rather than undermines, children’s rights and dignity.