A/69/264 includes promoting creative, critical and safe use of the Internet and preventing and responding to incidents of online violence, including cyberbullying, even when they were not originated in the school environment. 112. Promoting digital literacy in schools can also leverage efforts aimed at children’s social inclusion and narrow the digital divide affecting the most vulnerable children, those who otherwise are less likely to enjoy the benefits of new technologies or access information promoting safe Internet use. 113. Especially in remote areas, schools can also become a bridge between a child’s home and his or her community, an environment where students, parents and other community members meet to gain digital literacy and confidence, and to benefit from ICT-based training on life skills, social and economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. 114. This process is, however, strongly dependent on the extent to which teachers themselves understand the online environment and benefit from the needed skills and training to advise, guide, empower and support children and young people, to identify early signals of abuse, and to report and follow up on such cases in an ethical and child-sensitive manner. This is an area where strong investment is needed. Joining efforts with civil society 115. In many countries, cooperation with civil society organizations has been critical to widen online literacy and safety, especially among children and their families; to raise awareness and enhance children’s digital citizenship; to promote responses to harm when it is committed, as well as to capture, through surveys conducted with young people, children’s experiences, fears, expectations and online behaviour. In turn, these efforts have generated important advocacy and action by children themselves. 116. Through information, capacity-building and research initiatives, operating helplines and providing support to child victims, and through engagement in policy and legislative reforms, civil society partners have been a decisive contributor to national and international efforts that seek to build a safe online environment for children. Consolidating partnerships with the corporate sector 117. The corporate sector is an essential driver for societies and economies and can actively contribute to violence prevention, to minimizing risks and securing online protection for children. This is particularly important as their services or products can be used to expose children to online abuse, including violent content, cyberbullying and sexting, grooming or sexual abuse. 118. The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights 15 and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles, 16 together with the General Comment of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on States’ obligations regarding the impact of the business sector on children’s rights, 17 provide an important framework __________________ 15 16 17 14-58801 www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf. www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/human_rights/CRBP/Childrens_ rights_and_Business_Principles.pdf. CRC/C/GC/16. 21/23