12 Feb 2024  |   06:15am IST

A DANGEROUS ‘GAME’: Goa’s Child Rights body red flags victimisation of children on illegal online gaming platforms

Child Rights chairperson raises serious concerns of sexual exploitation, and trafficking, at UNICEF backed National Conference on Child Rights

Team Herald

MARGAO:  The Goa Child Rights Commission has upscaled and red flagged cyber  bullying, sexual exploitation and harassment of children within online  gaming communities 

The  Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR)  chairperson Peter F Borges, drew attention to the exploitation of  children’s trust and vulnerability by predators in gaming spaces,  leading to risks of sexual exploitation, trafficking, or coercion, at  the National Conference on Child Rights and Well-being in Online Gaming  and eSports in India, by the CyberPeace Foundation and UNICEF

Participating  in the youth session “Regulating Online Gaming and Balancing Innovation  and Child Protection”, Borges discussed the desensitisation to violence  and neglect of essential responsibilities resulting from excessive  gaming, advocating for balanced gaming habits and robust moderation and  reporting systems.

The  panel highlighted and underlined the need for proactive measures to  protect children from exploitation, violence, and neglect in online  gaming and emphasised the importance of promoting digital literacy and  fostering open communication between children, parents, and gaming  communities, affirming the necessity of prioritising child protection in  the regulation of online gaming for a safer digital landscape.