Accelerating action on Child Online Protection in ASEAN under the Regional Plan of Action on the Protection of Children from all Forms of Online Child Exploitation and Abuse
It is estimated that close to 3 out of 4 internet users in the Asia-Pacific region are children and youths aged between 15 and 24 years. The increased reliance on digital devices and information services has brought about both positive and negative impacts on children and young people’s lives. On the one hand, the internet enables them to access information, learn new skills, develop social relationships and seek entertainment in unprecedented ways. On the other hand, potential threats such as exposure to inappropriate content, violations of privacy, cyberbullying, and online sexual exploitation have also manifested.
Recognising the influence of technology and the associated risks for children, ASEAN Member States have committed to proactively collaborate with private sector institutions to strengthen children’s protection online. The ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection is the first in a series of annual events under the leadership of ASEAN creating a platform for dialogue and exchange between ICT companies, governments, civil society, academia, and children and young people themselves.
This forum was hosted under the leadership of the Royal Government of Cambodia and ASEAN, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 2 to 3 November, 2022.
Event Co-Hosts:

With Additional Support From:

Thursday 2 November 2022
Day 1: 2 November 2022
Master of Ceremony: Ms. Ajeng PurnamaPoverty Eradication and Gender Officer, ASEAN Secretariat |
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Registration of onsite participants/Test connection to the Zoom Meeting Room (8:00 – 9:00am, GMT+7) | ||
Opening ceremony (9:00 – 10.00am, GMT+7) | ||
9:00 – 9:03am | ASEAN Anthem | All |
9:03 – 9:10am | Remarks |
H.E. Mr. Iem KounthdySecretary of State, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation |
9:10 – 9:15am | Remarks |
Ms. Debora CominiRegional Director, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office |
9:15 – 9:21am | Remarks |
Ms. San Sreyneang / Mr. Kouch ChengkorngYoung People Representative from Cambodia |
9:21 – 9:28am | Remarks |
Dr. Howard TaylorExecutive Director, Global Partnership to End Violence against Children |
9:28 – 9:35am | Remarks |
H.E. Mr. Pablo KangAustralia’s Ambassador to Cambodia |
9:35 – 9:42am | Remarks |
H.E. Mr. Ekkaphab PhanthavongDeputy Secretary-General, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community |
9:42 – 9:52am | Opening speech |
H.E. Mr. Men SochethSecretary of State and Representative of H.E. Vong Sauth, Minister of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation |
9:52 – 10:00am | Photo session | All |
10:00 – 10:15am | Health Break | |
Session 1: Understanding online abuse and exploitation of children in Southeast Asia (10:15am – 12:00pm)
Master of Ceremony: Ms. Ajeng PurnamaPoverty Eradication and Gender Officer, ASEAN Secretariat Objectives:
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10:15 – 10:35am | Understanding online abuse and exploitation of children in Southeast Asia – latest evidence from the Disrupting Harm studies |
Ms. Rangsima DeesawadeRegional Coordinator for Southeast Asia, ECPAT International Mr. Matthew DompierCriminal Intelligence Officer, INTERPOL |
10:35 – 10:45am | Safety by design in Southeast Asia: Consultations with young people in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam |
Dr. Amanda ThirdProfessorial Research Fellow, Western Sydney University |
10:45 – 11:00am | Q&A | Moderator:
Ms. Ajeng PurnamaPoverty Eradication and Gender Officer, ASEAN Secretariat |
11:00 – 11:50am | Panel discussion:
Experiences and perspectives of children and young people from the ASEAN region on online safety and the role of private sector |
Moderators:
Mr. Qamil MirzaYoung Person from Malaysia Ms. May Min ThoneYoung Person from Myanmar Panellists: Mr. Bùi Duy HiểnYoung Person from Viet Nam Ms. Phanomphone PhaouthoumYoung Person from Laos Dr. Srida Tanta-atipanitExecutive Director, Thai Hotline Mr. Bui Duy ThanhChild Protection Technical Program Specialist, World Vision International in Viet Nam |
11:50 – 12:00pm | Q&A | Moderator:
Ms. Ajeng PurnamaPoverty Eradication and Gender Officer, ASEAN Secretariat |
12:00 – 1:00pm | Lunch | |
Session 2: Roles, Responsibilities, and Opportunities: Industry Action on Child Online Protection (1:00 – 5:00pm)
Master of Ceremony: Ms. Ajeng PurnamaPoverty Eradication and Gender Officer, ASEAN Secretariat Objectives:
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1:00 – 1:20pm | Introduction to Regional Plan of Action (RPA) for the Protection of Children from All Forms of Online Exploitation and Abuse in ASEAN & other ASEAN projects on child online protection |
H.E. Mr. Theng ChhorvirithDeputy Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Cambodia’s Representative on Children’s Rights to ACWC |
1:20 – 1:30pm | Q&A | Moderator:
Ms. Ajeng PurnamaPoverty Eradication and Gender Officer, ASEAN Secretariat |
1:30 – 2:20pm | Interviews:
Voices of experience from ASEAN Member States on the multi-sectoral approach to Child Online Protection: What is working well? |
Moderator:
Mr. Iain DrennanExecutive Director, WeProtect Global Alliance Case study 1: Multi-sectoral response on Child Online Protection in the Philippines Speakers: Ms. Maricel C. DeloriaDirector Program Management Bureau, Department of Social Welfare and Development Mr. Jose RoseteAssistant Vice-President, Stakeholder Management, Smart/PLDT Ms. Marie Michelle QuezonChild Protection Officer, UNICEF Philippines
Case study 2: Multi-sectoral response on Child Online Protection in Cambodia Speakers: Mr. Seila SamleangDirector, APLE H.E. Mr. Chea PovDeputy General Commissioner, Cambodian National Police
Case study 3: Multi-sectoral response on Child Online Protection in Indonesia Speakers: Ms. Ciput PurwiantiAssistant Deputy for Protection of Children against Violence, Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ms. Dessy SukendarPolicy Programs Manager, META Indonesia |
2:20 – 2:40pm | Q&A | Moderator:
Ms. Ajeng PurnamaPoverty Eradication and Gender Officer, ASEAN Secretariat |
2:40 – 3:00pm | Health Break | |
3:00 – 3:20pm | Interactive ‘temperature’ check:
What barriers and bottlenecks do companies experience in efforts to strengthen approaches to protect children online? What are the current areas of strength and additional drivers for action? |
All participants
Moderator: Dr. Sabine K. WittingChild Online Protection Consultant, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office |
3:20 – 4:20pm | Panel discussion:
What barriers and bottlenecks do companies experience in efforts to strengthen approaches to protect children online? What are the current principles and opportunities being pursued? |
Moderator:
Ms. Serena TommasinoKnowledge and Advocacy Specialist, Global Partnership to End Violence against Children Mr. Dio TobingPublic Policy Lead (Asia), World Benchmarking Alliance Ms. Malina EnlundSafety Policy Manager APAC, Meta Ms. Laura HigginsSenior Director of Community Safety and Civility (Roblox), Fair Play Alliance Ms. Anh NguyenChief Operating Officer, Hekate H.E. Mr. Wanchai RoujanavongACWC Representative Thailand |
4:20 – 4:50pm | Q&A | Moderator:
Ms. Ajeng PurnamaPoverty Eradication and Gender Officer, ASEAN Secretariat |
4:50 – 5:00pm | Summary of Day 1 |
Ms. Maha HomsiRegional Adviser Child Protection, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office |
Friday 3 November 2022
Day 2: 3 November 2022
Master of Ceremony: Ms. Jacel J. PaguioSenior Officer, Poverty Eradication and Gender Division, ASEAN Secretariat |
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Session 1: Child Online Protection and Human Rights Due Diligence (8:30 – 10:15am)
Master of Ceremony: Ms. Ida HyllestedCorporate Alliances Manager, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office Objectives:
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8:30 – 8:45am | Introduction to child online protection and human rights due diligence processes |
Ms. Ida HyllestedCorporate Alliances Manager, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office |
8:45 – 9:45am | Panel discussion:
Voices of experience in implementing due diligence in the context of Child Online Protection in ASEAN |
Moderator:
Ms. Josiane Galea BaronChild Rights and Business Specialist, UNICEF Speakers: Ms. Hannah DarntonDirector, Technology and Human Rights, Business for Social Responsibility Mr. Ahmad Al-KabbanyFounder & CEO, Vrapeutic Mr. Charles ChewPolicy Director APAC, GSMA |
9:45 – 10:15am | Q&A | Moderator:
Ms. Ida HyllestedCorporate Alliances Manager, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office |
10:15 – 10:45am | Health Break | |
Session 2: Child Online Protection and safe & child-oriented product/service design (10:45 – 11:50am; 1:00 – 2:00pm)
Master of Ceremony: Ms. Jacel J. PaguioSenior Officer, Poverty Eradication and Gender Division, ASEAN Secretariat Objectives:
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10:45 – 11:30am | RITEC:
Creating practical tools for businesses and governments to put the well-being of children at the centre of digital design |
Moderator:
Ms. Josiane Galea BaronChild Rights and Business Specialist, UNICEF Speakers: Dr. Amanda ThirdProfessorial Research Fellow, Western Sydney University Dr. Elizabeth MilovidovSenior Manager, Digital Child Safety, Responsible Child Engagement, The LEGO Group |
11:30 – 11:50am | Q&A | Moderator:
Ms. Josiane Galea BaronChild Rights and Business Specialist, UNICEF |
11:50 – 1:00pm | Lunch | |
1:00 – 1:50pm | Safety by design:
Putting user safety and rights at the centre of the design and development of online products and services |
Ms. Ella SerryManager – International Engagement and Capacity Building, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Mr. Warren de FonsekaSenior International Development Officer – International Engagement and Capacity Building, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Mr. Leonard LimHead of Public Policy and Government Relations (South East Asia and Taiwan), Zoom |
1:50 – 2:00pm | Q&A | Moderator:
Mr. Warren de FonsekaSenior International Development Officer – International Engagement and Capacity Building, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner |
Session 3: Private sector collaboration with public policy and laws (2:00 – 4:05pm)
Master of Ceremony: Ms. Amy CrockerHead of Child Protection and Technology, ECPAT International Objectives:
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2:00 – 2:30pm | Industry Framework for transparency reporting on online child sexual abuse and exploitation |
Ms. Kay ChauDirector of Programs, Tech Coalition |
2:30 – 2:45pm | Q&A | Moderator:
Ms. Keiko BilgicPartnerships Specialist, UNICEF Cambodia |
2:45 – 3:05pm | Health Break | |
3:05 – 3:50pm | Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to flag new and previously unknown child sexual abuse in Southeast Asia |
Dr. Claudia PeersmanResearch Fellow, University of Bristol |
3:50 – 4:05pm | Q&A | Moderator:
Ms. Keiko BilgicPartnerships Specialist, UNICEF Cambodia |
Session 4: Looking ahead – next steps in the fight against online child sexual abuse and exploitation in ASEAN (4:05 – 5:00pm)
Master of Ceremony: Ms. Jacel J. PaguioSenior Officer, Poverty Eradication and Gender Division, ASEAN Secretariat Objectives:
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4:05 – 4:20pm | Interactive session:
Identifying key areas of interest/best ways for engagement with private sector to inform content of next ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection |
Moderators:
Ms. Amy CrockerHead of Child Protection and Technology, ECPAT International Ms. Jacel J. PaguioSenior Officer, Poverty Eradication and Gender Division, ASEAN Secretariat |
4:20 – 4:35pm | Next steps and opportunities for further engagement |
Dr. Omar KhalidBrunei’s Representative on Children’s Rights to ACWC |
4:35 – 4:45pm | Statements by children and young people representatives:
Expected action and way forward |
Mr. Firman GaniYoung Person from Indonesia Ms. Adriana MañasYoung Person from the Philippines |
4:45 – 5:00pm | Official closing |
H.E. Mr. Iem KounthdySecretary of State Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation |
Slides and other Documentary Resources

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable People
The Forum organisers take the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people seriously.
As part of their registration, all participants agreed to abide by the requirements of the Forum specific child safeguarding policy.
• ASEAN ICT Forum Child Safeguarding Policy
During and following the event, the Safeguarding Focal Point may be contacted directly in person by notifying staff on the registration table. She may also be contacted by the below details:
Rachel Harvey
Regional Adviser, Child Protection
UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Office
Mobile: +66 (0) 65 415 4814
Email: rharvey@unicef.org