Odisha Police, UNICEF Host ‘JUVENTICA’ Conclave on Digital Safety of Children

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police in collaboration with UNICEF organised the JUVENTICA – Digital Rights & Safety of Children Conclave at Police Bhawan on Saturday, bringing together policymakers, police officials, educators, parents and students to address the growing challenges children face in the digital world.

The conclave served as a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on safeguarding children’s rights and well-being online, as increasing digital engagement among young people raises concerns about cyber threats, privacy and online safety.

Addressing the gathering, Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, Director General of Police of Odisha, highlighted the evolving responsibilities of law enforcement in tackling cyber risks involving children. He said the police have been intensifying cyber safety awareness programmes and strengthening investigative capacity by establishing 20 additional cyber police stations across districts and engaging cyber experts at the field level.

Khurania also noted that 71 police stations in the state have been upgraded with child-friendly corners and reaffirmed the commitment to make the entire police system more child-friendly in the future. He stressed that protecting children in the digital space requires coordinated efforts from both law enforcement agencies and civil society.

Speaking on the occasion, Vinaytosh Mishra, DGP of CID-Crime Branch, pointed to the rising complexity of cyber threats targeting children. He said India’s internet user base has expanded significantly over the past decade, making digital safety a major responsibility for institutions and law enforcement agencies. Mishra also outlined the initiatives undertaken by the Children and Women Online Abuse Monitoring Unit of the Cyber Wing to remove child sexual exploitation and abusive material from online platforms.

Shyni S, Additional DGP of the Crime Against Women and Children Wing, emphasised the need to combine enforcement with awareness and prevention. She said children today navigate both physical and digital worlds, making it essential to equip them, along with parents and teachers, with the knowledge and tools to use the internet safely and responsibly.

Highlighting the importance of a rights-based approach, Prasanta Kumar Dash, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Odisha, said technology is transforming childhood and that children must be placed at the centre of discussions on digital safety as active learners, creators and leaders in the digital ecosystem.

The conclave featured fireside conversations with celebrities and influencers on how social media culture and digital trends influence the aspirations and behaviour of adolescents. It also included three panel discussions focusing on the role of policing in protecting children online, the impact of digital platforms on young minds, and the importance of privacy, consent and digital boundaries.

During the event, several institutional commitments were announced to strengthen digital safety for children in the state. Odisha Police proposed initiatives such as the Rakshya Saathi volunteer programme, enhanced training for Child Welfare Police Officers and stronger engagement with schools.

The School and Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha also pledged to introduce digital safety education in schools, promote digital hygiene and psycho-social first aid for children affected by online harm, and encourage digital safety initiatives as a standard practice across educational institutions.

Officials said both departments will jointly develop mechanisms for Child Welfare Police Officers to participate in parent-teacher meetings and school management committees, while UNICEF Odisha will help design training modules to support their effective engagement in schools.