𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗟 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻

𝙄𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙙, 𝙋𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣 — In a pivotal meeting held at the National CERT Headquarters, top officials from the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT), UNICEF-Pakistan, and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) convened to address strategic approaches and ongoing efforts in the realm of Child Online Protection (COP). The meeting underscored the commitment of all parties to enhance coordination and take proactive measures to safeguard children from online threats and exploitation.

National CERT was represented by Dr. Haider Abbas, (TI), Director General, National CERT, who was accompanied by Dr. Muhammad Yousaf, Director CERT, Incident Management, and Mr. Syed Imran Haider, Manager Trainings – Capacity Building Directorate, National CERT. UNICEF-Pakistan representatives included Ms. Mahwish Saeed Syed, Social & Behavioral Change Officer, and Ms. Susan Andrew, Child Protection Specialist. Representing INTERPOL’s Crimes Against Children Unit, Criminal Intelligence Officers Ms. Laura Smith and Mr. David Gitau, both currently assigned to the Disrupting Harm Project and based in Lyon, France, brought their expertise in combating Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA). Mr. Shahab Hussain, Assistant Director at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), also participated to provide insights on the domestic legal and law enforcement aspects related to child protection in Pakistan.

The officials indulged in a comprehensive dialogue aimed at reviewing the progress of COP programs currently in place and exploring avenues to deepen collaborative efforts. The meeting underscored the urgency of addressing the challenges posed by online exploitation, cyberbullying, and other threats affecting children in the increasingly digital landscape of Pakistan.

National CERT highlighted its child protection initiatives, which include raising digital literacy, creating safe online spaces, and educating families on internet safety. These efforts, part of an ongoing campaign to proactively identify and mitigate online threats, are aligned with its mission to establish a secure digital environment for young users. Similarly, UNICEF-Pakistan shared its focus on empowering children and communities to foster resilience against online risks, reinforcing its global mission to ensure child safety in the digital world.

INTERPOL’s contributions centered on international best practices and intelligence-sharing frameworks, enabling Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies to address cross-border cyber threats more effectively. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to enhance cooperation through joint programs and information-sharing protocols, underlining the commitment of each organization to protect children in Pakistan from cyber threats. The parties pledged to further develop a sustainable roadmap that ensures the continuation of these efforts, including training for law enforcement personnel, public awareness campaigns, and the development of policies that strengthen digital safety regulations for children.