A/HRC/RES/31/7
psychological integrity and human dignity and an unlawful use of the child victim’s
personal data and that it can have a negative impact on the enjoyment of the right of the
child to the protection of the law against arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her
privacy,
Reaffirming that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her
personality, should grow up in a family environment, while the best interests of the child
shall be the guiding principle of those responsible for his or her nurture and protection, and
that families’ and caregivers’ capacities to provide the child with care and a safe
environment should be promoted,
Recognizing that perpetrators of child sexual abuse and exploitation online are
sometimes the direct caregivers of the child, and that family members, communities and
neighbours might be involved in the offering of children for the purpose of sexual abuse
and exploitation through information and communications technologies,
Recalling in this regard that States should take all appropriate legislative,
administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of
physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment,
sexual abuse and exploitation while in the care of their parents, legal guardians or any other
person who cares for the child,
Recognizing that the responsibility to respect the rights of the child also applies to
private actors and business enterprises and, in particular, that private actors in the Internet
industry who provide or operate services across domestic jurisdictions should continue to
take part in joint international efforts to raise awareness and empower children about online
risks and to prevent and counter child sexual abuse and exploitation online and offline,
Acknowledging efforts made by private actors, in the framework of corporate social
responsibility, to ensure that their infrastructure and services are not used for criminal
purposes and to cooperate fully in efforts related to the detection, reporting, investigation,
prosecution and prevention of child sexual abuse and exploitation online and offline,
Recognizing the importance of prevention in ensuring a safe online and information
and communications technologies environment for children while protecting the child’s
rights to the protection of the law against arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her
privacy, to seek, receive or impart information, to education, to freedom of expression and
to participation, and recognizing also that prevention measures and approaches should
involve key actors, including Governments, civil society, industry, parents, schools,
children and the whole community,
Expressing concern in relation to the situations when private actors abstain from
taking actions required under national and international law to provide adequate safeguards
aimed at preventing child sexual abuse and exploitation, and stressing in this regard the
utmost importance of bringing to justice all those involved in or facilitating child sexual
exploitation and abuse online,
Recognizing the multi-jurisdictional and transnational nature of child sexual
exploitation and abuse online and through information and communications technologies,
the fragility of the electronic evidence of such crimes and the continual adaptation of
technology by perpetrators to avoid detection and investigation, which pose various
difficulties for traditional mutual legal assistance and cooperation channels and require
active international cooperation among different actors, including States and their law
enforcement and judicial authorities and private actors, including with regard to detecting
crimes, reporting them to competent authorities for investigation, safeguarding electronic
evidence of crimes and handing it over to those authorities in a timely manner,
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