“We’ve taken a step towards a more child-friendly legislation, but the real help lies in prevention: to succeed in initiating actions which raise awareness about threats and if something wrong happens, letting children and adults know what they should do” – stated Deputy PM Tibor Navracsics this Monday in Veszprém, just before a session of the campaign managed by the Ministry under his control, running under the name ‘The Internet Does Not Forget’.

The Ministry of Public Administration and Justice has launched several programs, including this campaign which draws attention on the dangers of Internet usage. He recalled, for the sake of child-friendly justice, all counties had to compulsorily establish at least one child-friendly hearing room till the end of last year. To the present there are a number of counties where 2-3 of such rooms exist, used not only by the police, but courts as well. The Minister explained that kids express themselves more openly about traumas suffered, so professionals can acquire more information. It is now
possible in the  child-friendly hearing rooms to record testimony that could be used in later stages of the legal process. The child does not need to repeat the whole sequence several times.

“We can’t be fully satisfied though, because statistics show that children are more prone of becoming victims of crime” – emphasized the Minister.

Monika Balatoni, Minister of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations of the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice said that smartphone-using ten-year-olds could be involved in social networking even without the consent of parents, where they could share the most confidential information with one another. As she said, this way they could easily fall victims of child trafficking and child prostitution.

She drew light on the fact that for parents and teachers it is recommended as well to know the technical jargon of the Internet in order to keep up with children, so they can monitor their online activities and if there is trouble – such as harassment – they are able to intervene. She added in this regard that a sixty-hour training program will be available for teachers in September. According to her information, ‘The Internet Does Not Forget’ program will reach more than sixty high schools before this year’s annual graduations.

‘The Internet Does Not Forget’ program of the Ministry was launched this January. During interactive lectures with the help of three moderators, high school students learn in a playful way what consequences posting can have, how many times they commit offense against another person when they use their photos without their consent  or violate their private information.

(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)