CHI - Telecoms

Telecoms

Partnering with the Telecommunications Sector
With mobile phones and other means of communication becoming more and more accessible to children in many regions of the world, forging partnerships with the various telecoms operators seems obvious. Until CHI took this on, however, it wasn’t. CHI did not want to sit back and wait for the telecoms sector to develop child-related programmes and agendas without hearing about the tremendous role telecoms could play within child protection. Seeing an opportunity where no one else did, CHI felt it was imperative to engage the sector and become an active participant in order to place children on the international telecom agenda. The results speak for themselves.

In 2005, CHI members began working with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the UN Body that regulates telecommunications at the local, national, regional and global levels, towards advocating for a global 3-digit toll-free number. The benefits of a global number for children are priceless. Children in need of care and protection need assistance whenever and wherever; and no matter which country they are in, they can dial the same number. Children often do not have access to the yellow pages for a helpline number. With an easy-to-remember number accessible children around the world can be better cared for.

CHI spearheaded the effort to include children in future planning. By advocating for the inclusion of children in the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action at the WSIS in September 2003, the CHI Telecoms Taskforce made the first steps towards the recognition of children within the ICT sector. Months of planning and discussions between CHI and key decision-makers led to the inclusion of Article 24 in the Tunis Commitment, which reads:

“We recognise the role of ICTs in the protection and in enhancing the development of children. We will strengthen action to protect children from abuse and defend their rights in the context of ICTs. In that context, we emphasize that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration.”

Telecoms
Children grow up in a world that is increasingly connected. Even so, not all children benefit equally from existing and emerging telecommunication technologies. Further compounding matters, vulnerable children often do not have the access to these technologies. Communication technologies should be accessible to all children, especially the vulnerable and marginalised child.

The use of telecommunications as a mechanism to reach out to children in need, especially the marginalised child, is one of the primary objectives of CHI and its membership network. CHI continues to advocate and search for new ways to use telecommunication technologies and reach all children wherever they are.
Allocation of Telephone Numbers
CHI pursues the allocation to child helplines of easy to remember, 3-4 digit telephone numbers that are free of charge (i.e. toll-free). CHI has a three pronged strategy:

    * A local toll free, easy to remember, 3-4 digit number for each helpline in every country.
    * A regional number: a toll free, easy to remember, 3-4 digit number for all helplines in that region.
    * A global number: a toll free, easy to remember, 3-4 digit telephone number, for all helplines in the world.

To achieve these goals, CHI advocates with regulators and other stakeholders, e.g. telecom operators, at different levels (national, regional and global). On the national level we are cooperating with child helplines to advocate with national authorities, telecom operators and other stakeholders for the allocation of national 3-4 digit, toll-free telephone numbers to the child helpline. More and more countries allocate a short, toll-free telephone number to a child helpline.

This recognition is important, but to reach as many children as possible in a globalised world with increased human and child trafficking, children need to be able to contact a child helpline wherever they are at all times. An easy-to-remember telephone number that is the same everywhere is a fundamental requirement to best serve children in need of care and protection. CHI is therefore advocating at the regional and international levels for the allocation of regional and global telephone numbers to child helplines.
European telephone number for child helplines: 116 111
CHI advocates at a regional level for the allocation of easy to remember, toll-free telephone numbers. In the European Union our efforts were successful: The European Commission allocated the telephone number 116 111 to child helplines. This means that children in the 27 (!) member states can dial the same telephone number wherever they are in the EU and reach the support and help of a child helpline they need.
Recognition of Children in the Telecommunications revolution
At the international level, CHI is cooperating with the International Telecom Union since 2003. This is the United Nations organisation for information and communication technologies based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ITU has 191 state members and more than 700 sector members.

Advocacy efforts by CHI led to the recognition by the ITU that all children, especially those in a vulnerable position, should be able to benefit from the telecommunication revolution. In 2005,this led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CHI and the ITU. Since then, CHI has been working with the ITU to explore the feasibility of a global number.


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	Telecoms Partnering with the Telecommunications Sector With mobile phones and other means of communication becoming more and more accessible to children in many regions of the world, forging partnerships with the various telecoms operators seems obvious. Until CHI took this on, however, it wasn’t. CHI did not want to sit back and wait for the telecoms sector to develop child-related programmes and agendas without hearing about the tremendous role telecoms could play within child protection. Seeing an opportunity where no one else did, CHI felt it was imperative to engage the sector and become an active participant in order to place children on the international telecom agenda. The results speak for themselves. In 2005, CHI members began working with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the UN Body that regulates telecommunications at the local, national, regional and global levels, towards advocating for a global 3-digit toll-free number. The benefits of a global number for children are priceless. Children in need of care and protection need assistance whenever and wherever; and no matter which country they are in, they can dial the same number. Children often do not have access to the yellow pages for a helpline number. With an easy-to-remember number accessible children around the world can be better cared for. CHI spearheaded the effort to include children in future planning. By advocating for the inclusion of children in the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action at the WSIS in September 2003, the CHI Telecoms Taskforce made the first steps towards the recognition of children within the ICT sector. Months of planning and discussions between CHI and key decision-makers led to the inclusion of Article 24 in the Tunis Commitment, which reads: “We recognise the role of ICTs in the protection and in enhancing the development of children. We will strengthen action to protect children from abuse and defend their rights in the context of ICTs. In that context, we emphasize that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration.” Telecoms Children grow up in a world that is increasingly connected. Even so, not all children benefit equally from existing and emerging telecommunication technologies. Further compounding matters, vulnerable children often do not have the access to these technologies. Communication technologies should be accessible to all children, especially the vulnerable and marginalised child. The use of telecommunications as a mechanism to reach out to children in need, especially the marginalised child, is one of the primary objectives of CHI and its membership network. CHI continues to advocate and search for new ways to use telecommunication technologies and reach all children wherever they are. Allocation of Telephone Numbers CHI pursues the allocation to child helplines of easy to remember, 3-4 digit telephone numbers that are free of charge (i.e. toll-free). CHI has a three pronged strategy: * A local toll free, easy to remember, 3-4 digit number for each helpline in every country. * A regional number: a toll free, easy to remember, 3-4 digit number for all helplines in that region. * A global number: a toll free, easy to remember, 3-4 digit telephone number, for all helplines in the world. To achieve these goals, CHI advocates with regulators and other stakeholders, e.g. telecom operators, at different levels (national, regional and global). On the national level we are cooperating with child helplines to advocate with national authorities, telecom operators and other stakeholders for the allocation of national 3-4 digit, toll-free telephone numbers to the child helpline. More and more countries allocate a short, toll-free telephone number to a child helpline. This recognition is important, but to reach as many children as possible in a globalised world with increased human and child trafficking, children need to be able to contact a child helpline wherever they are at all times. An easy-to-remember telephone number that is the same everywhere is a fundamental requirement to best serve children in need of care and protection. CHI is therefore advocating at the regional and international levels for the allocation of regional and global telephone numbers to child helplines. European telephone number for child helplines: 116 111 CHI advocates at a regional level for the allocation of easy to remember, toll-free telephone numbers. In the European Union our efforts were successful: The European Commission allocated the telephone number 116 111 to child helplines. This means that children in the 27 (!) member states can dial the same telephone number wherever they are in the EU and reach the support and help of a child helpline they need. Recognition of Children in the Telecommunications revolution At the international level, CHI is cooperating with the International Telecom Union since 2003. This is the United Nations organisation for information and communication technologies based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ITU has 191 state members and more than 700 sector members. Advocacy efforts by CHI led to the recognition by the ITU that all children, especially those in a vulnerable position, should be able to benefit from the telecommunication revolution. In 2005,this led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CHI and the ITU. Since then, CHI has been working with the ITU to explore the feasibility of a global number.
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