GSMA Partners Child Helpline International to Promote Child Protection

GSMA has marked the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)1 by forming a partnership with Child Helpline International (CHI) to protect young people and safeguard their right to be heard.

The GSMA and CHI have signed an agreement that establishes a roadmap for promoting child helplines across the globe, including measures to strengthen relationships between national mobile operators and their in-country helplines and foster collaboration on issues such as a safer Internet for children.

“Child Helpline International’s mission is to ensure that every call is answered, so every child in need of being heard can be heard. The GSMA is committed to playing its part in achieving this important goal,” said Anne Bouverot, director general, GSMA.

“The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was established in 1989, which is also the year that the World Wide Web was born. Increasingly, children around the world are using mobile phones to access the Internet, for social networking and apps, as well as to make calls and send texts. Our partnership with Child Helpline International will reinforce the ongoing efforts of mobile operators to protect and support young people’s safety in our connected society.”

Nenita La Rose, Executive Director, Child Helpline International, said: “Every two seconds a child reaches out to a child helpline. Unfortunately 50 per cent of these calls for help remain unheard because child helplines often lack the resources to answer every call. As children and young people need access to communication technology to reach vital child helpline services, mobile operators are important stakeholders. I am delighted to formalise this crucial partnership with the GSMA by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on our shared goal to answer every call from every child.”

GSMA operator members who have pledged to support child helplines in their markets include Airtel, Avea, Axiata, Bouygues, China Mobile, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Digicel, KDDI, KT, Millicom, NTT DOCOMO, Nuevatel, Ooredoo, Orange, SK Telecom, STC, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telekom Austria, Telenor Group, TeliaSonera, Telstra, VimpelCom, Vodafone and Zain.

Existing and potential commitments amongst the mobile operators include, for example: assisting in the establishment of a helpline if none exists nationally; increasing awareness of helplines; and providing in-kind support or sponsorship. Commitments will vary by operator and by market.

Last month, CHI launched the ‘Free Our Voices’ campaign to generate public support for child helplines internationally. Utilising custom sound recognition technology, visitors to the campaign website can sign the petition by verbally recording their name, instead of the usual written or digital signature. Find out more at www.freeourvoices.org.

On 1 November, GSMA launched a 20-day countdown to the 25th anniversary of the CRC on its website. Each day, an inspirational individual or organisation that protects or promotes the rights of children in today’s digital world has been spotlighted.