Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH – Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, will open here on Nov. 15 a national forum on sexual exploitation of children through the Internet. Delegates from 12 countries and 15 organizations will take part in the three-day event. Organized by the Public Security in association with other Interior Ministry agencies and government departments, the forum will showcase successful national and international experiments and best practices in protecting children from sex abuse through the Internet. "International organizations as well as regional and national associations will present their successful preventive experiments that have contributed to reducing sexual exploitation of children through the Internet and protecting children from torture," a forum organizer said. The Public Security has set out a comprehensive plan and vision to deal with sexual promiscuity and sexual exploitation of children through modern technology, said the official. The forum aims at forging regional and international cooperation by deepening values, ideas and concepts and exchanging information. "The Public Security has made it a point that the forum should enhance expertise of participants in tackling this vital issue," the official said. "International partnership to protect children from sexual abuse through the Internet" is the main theme of the forum, which includes workshops, presentation of scientific and research papers, one to one and group discussions and an exhibition showcasing successful experiments. The official stressed the importance of enhancing public awareness on the danger posed by sexual abuse of children on the Internet. "Security agencies and Internet service providers must join their hands to end this dangerous phenomenon." He said the information superhighway must be protected from exploitation by those agencies that promote child porn. "We have to make use of successful international experiments in this field and enact effective rules and regulations to protect children," he added. The forum will give Saudi experts an opportunity to highlight the Kingdom's endeavors to safeguard children from sexual abuse and other crimes. Lt. Gen. Othman Bin Nasser Al-Muhrej, director general of Public Security, is directly supervising the forum's organization to make it a big success in terms of participation, presentation of papers, exchange of information and expertise and discussion of solutions. The forum comes as part of the government's efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect (CAN), which is currently viewed as a global healthcare priority.
