09:00 – 09:40

Welcome

• Iain Drennan, Executive Director, WeProtect Global Alliance
• Lt. Col. Dana Humaid AlMarzooqi, Director General,  International Affairs Bureau, UAE Ministry of Interior; WeProtect Board member
• Baroness Joanna Shields OBE, WeProtect founder and Board member

09:40 – 09:55

Keynote address: A focus on humanity, tech and the future

We are in one of the most transformative times in human history. Over the next decade technology will evolve at a rapid rate, and new technological threats to children will continue to emerge. The places where children learn, play and interact will become increasingly borderless and the digital world an even bigger part of their lives. What implications does this have? How can humanity respond to keeping children safe online when technology is developing at such a rapid pace? What will the future look like for children online and what role do we have to play in changing the future?

• Speaker: Nina Jane Patel, Futurist

09:55 – 10:40

New horizons: emerging trends shaping the future

What are the key emerging risks that could shape the future of child protection over the next decade? WeProtect Global Alliance and Thorn will launch new research on global emerging technological trends, followed by a panel with global experts exploring proactive strategies to prevent child exploitation and abuse before harm occurs.

Launch of report by Julie Cordua, CEO Thorn and WeProtect Board member

Panel members (moderated by Julie Cordua): 

• Mama Fatima Singhateh, Special Rapporteur on the Sale, Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse of Children
• Courtney Gregoire, Vice President, Chief Digital Safety Officer, Microsoft
• Yuhyun Park, Founder, DQ Institute

11:00 – 11:30

Opening Ceremony

• Musical performance
• H.E. Sheikh Humaid AlQassimi – President of UAE Children’s Parliament & Ghaya AlAhbabi, UNICEF Youth Advocate
• Baroness Joanna Shields OBE, WeProtect founder and Board member
• His Highness Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, UAE

11:30 – 12:30

Survivor perspectives: stepping up action for a safer future

Survivors of child sexual exploitation and abuse will take centre stage, sharing their personal stories, insights and visions to inspire a collective reimagining of how we approach child protection, advocate for policy changes and empower others to take action toward a safer, more compassionate world for children.

Introduction and moderation by Cornelius Williams, WeProtect Board member, former UNICEF Global Director Child Protection

Speakers:

• Mark Neil Ontong, Survivor Consultant and Leader, International Justice Mission
• Nina Jane Patel, Futurist and Survivor Advocate
• Kanga Rasi, Head of Africa Region, The Brave Movement

12:30 – 12:32

Video message from Steve Moore, founding donor of MOORE | Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

13:30 – 14:15

Building the case for prevention

As child sexual abuse rates continue to grow, critical gaps in prevention and intervention strategies remain. This session will explore perspectives to strengthen our collective understanding and strategies for preventing abuse and make the case for continued investment and innovation in creating safer futures for children through development of a new global framework.

Introduction and moderation: Marija Manojlovic, WeProtect Board member  and Executive Director Safe Online

Panellists:

• Deborah Denis, CEO, Lucy Faithfull Foundation
• Aengus Ó Dochartaigh, Outreach Director, Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse
• Nicolas Makharashvili, Director, Safe Futures Hub
• Sean Litton, President and CEO, Tech Coalition

14:15 – 14:30

Artificial Intelligence and the future

• HE Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications

14:30 – 15:00

New horizons: emerging trends shaping the future

What are the key emerging risks that could shape the future of child protection over the next decade?  WeProtect Global Alliance and Thorn will launch new research on global emerging technological trends, followed by a panel with global experts exploring proactive strategies to prevent child exploitation and abuse before harm occurs.

Launch of report by Julie Cordua, CEO Thorn and WeProtect Board member

Panel members (moderated by Julie Cordua): 

• Mama Fatima Singhateh, Special Rapporteur on the Sale, Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse of Children
• Courtney Gregoire, Vice President, Chief Digital Safety Officer, Microsoft
• Yuhyun Park, Founder, DQ Institute

15:00 – 16:00

Exploring new trends and issues in depth

Breakout 1: Tackling the rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material

From modifying and distorting existing images to creating deepfakes, AI is fuelling a wave of new challenges for child safety. This session features insights from law enforcement, technology experts, governments and regulators on the latest trends in AI-driven abuse and how they’re addressing current and emerging risks to children online.

Introduction and moderation: Denton Howard, WeProtect Board member and Executive Director, INHOPE

Panellists:

• John Buckley, Lead Child Safety Policy Strategist, Google
• Chelsea Carlson, Child Safety TPM, OpenAI
• Yalda Aoukar, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Bracket Foundation
• Fallon McNulty, Director, CyberTipline, National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

Breakout 2: Health and wellbeing: looking after frontline responders

WeProtect Global Alliance and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will present research on the health, wellbeing and work impacts of responding to online child sexual exploitation and abuse, including work-related risk and protective factors and recommendations to enhance work practices, build resilience and improve staff retention.

Introduction and moderation by Christian Papaleontiou, WeProtect Board member and Deputy Director, Tackling Exploitation and Abuse Unit, UK Home Office

Presentation from Roberta Sinclair on findings, followed by discussion with panellists:

• Roberta Sinclair, Manager, Strategic Policy and Research, Strategic and Operational Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Michael Marwa, Direction National Child Helpline Tanzania, C-SEMA
• Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen, Executive Director Protect Children and Psychotherapist

Breakout 3 : Emerging risks and solutions: insights on the ground

Organisations from across the world will share key insights following a series of working meetings where they explored current and future issues and solutions, strengthening the localization agenda on the sexual exploitation of children facilitated by technologies. This session provides critical insights from regions in the global majority that should inspire further collaboration across regions and globally.

Introduction and moderation – Guillaume Landry, WeProtect Board member and Executive Director ECPAT International

Panellists:

• Anna Nabulya, Deputy Executive Director, UYDEL Uganda
• Seila Samleang, Executive Director, APLE Cambodia
• Juliet Ohahuru-Obiora, Program Director, Action Against Child Sexual Abuse Initiative
• Oscar Valverde Cerros, Executive Director, Fundaction Paniamor
• Dr Indrani Bhattacharyya, Chief Executive Officer, Child in Need Institute

Breakout 4: A roadmap for navigating the future of age assurance

Digital age assurance is a complex and sensitive issue, requiring a careful balancing of rights and risks. This session will bring together insights from policy, regulatory, industry, and civil society to share effective approaches and discuss how we can build a common global framework for understanding the age of users.

Moderator:  Helen King, Founder and Director,  Praesidio

• Chloe Setter, Child Safety Public Policy Lead, TikTok [Virtual]
• Natascha Gerlach, Centre for Information Policy Leadership [Virtual]
• Michael Tunks, Online Safety Principal for Child Sexual Abuse, Ofcom
• Liz Thomas, Director Public Policy, Digital Safety, Microsoft
• Liz Curtis, Head of Programmes, Praesidio

16:15 – 17:15

National perspectives & future commitments to combat exploitation & abuse

Governments will discuss their progress in tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse online, outlining current challenges, sharing best practices and revealing their commitments to future actions. This session will not only reflect on past and present efforts but also focus on how countries plan to evolve and strengthen their strategies to effectively combat exploitation and abuse in the digital age.

Introduction and moderation: Lt. Col. Dana Humaid AlMarzooqi, Director General,  International Affairs Bureau, UAE Ministry of Interior/ WeProtect Board member

Joined by Ministers from various countries

09:00 – 09:20

Keynote: Looking back, looking forward

Reflections on changes in child sexual exploitation and abuse and the key challenges ahead

• Ernie Allen, WeProtect Global Alliance Board Chair [Virtual]

09:20 – 10:00

Keynote: Hopes, reflections and creating a different future

As online risks continue to evolve, influential voices will share their visions, strategies, and commitments to creating a safer digital world.

Introduction by Jacqueline Beauchere, Snap Inc & WeProtect Board member

• Evan Spiegel, CEO Snap Inc (pre-recorded 10-minute video)
• Fireside chat – in discussion with Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, UN Special Representative on Violence against Children and Iain Drennan, Executive Director, WeProtect Global Alliance

10:00 – 10:15

#MyVoice#MyFuture – youth film

Screening of a short film featuring voice of young people in two countries and their perspectives on their concerns, digital rights and the future world they would like to see online.

Speakers:

• Felicity, SheLeads GYW Youth Advocate Network
• Juliet Ohahuru Obiora, ACSAI

10:15 – 10:20

Video message from Baroness Beeban Kidron OBE, Chair 5Rights Foundation

10:45 – 11:45

A focus on the future: practical applications

Breakout 1 : #MyVoice#MySay – participation in practice

Alliance members from across sectors will bring to life innovative child-centred case studies and explore key standards and principles for ethical child and youth participation. This session is co-produced and led by youth advocates.

Interactive session facilitated by the SheLeads GYW Youth Advocates – Felicity, Hajaru, Betty and Phenny
Presentation panel to follow featuring:

• Natalie Foos – Youth Founder, Voicebox
• Minister Signe Riisalo, Minister of Social Protection of the Republic of Estonia [Virtual]
• TikTok Youth Council (Precord)
• Luisa Sotomayor, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
• Dr Mustafa Yusuf Ali (Secretary General Global Network of Religions for Children; Director, Arigatou International – Nairobi)

Breakout 2: Using AI in the fight against child sexual abuse

From clustering users on darknet forums to AI-driven analysis of support chats for children, World Childhood Foundation will share insights on how society can use artificial intelligence (AI) to advance the fight against child sexual abuse. Participants will gain insights into the potential of leveraging AI to keep children safe, and inspiration on how to engage in cross-sectoral collaborations.

Presenters: Susanne Drakborg, World Childhood Foundation’s Thematic Lead on Child Safety Online, and Erika Olsson, Stella Polaris Project Coordinator.

Breakout 3 : How technology and new learning is shaping law enforcement

How is AI technology and new learning providing tools and opportunities for law enforcement around the world?  This session will feature four case studies from leading law enforcement and academic professionals, highlighting the latest research and the value of international collaboration across borders.

Introduced by Mark Beavan, Head of Crimes Against Children, INTERPOL

Case study presentations from:

• Project Artemis –  Simon Bailey, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University
• Research to Practice Kenya Case Study – Lydia Davenport, Childlight Institute
• AI for Safer Children – Irakli Beridze, UNICRI
• Virtual Global Taskforce – Sean Sutton, National Crime Agency

Breakout 4: Innovations and responding to future risks

As we continue to face new and emerging threats, we also need innovative ways to tackle them. This session will feature innovations being developed to protect children online. Praesidio Safeguarding will share work they have been doing with influencers in West Africa and shed light on some of the protection gaps children face in Africa and Asia, and the solutions needed to safeguard them in the future. They will be joined by two technology organisations who will showcase their innovations in gaming and the work they have been doing to make gaming experiences safer.

Introduction from Guillaume Landry, WeProtect Board Member and Executive Director, ECPAT International

• Helen King, Founder and Director, Praesidio Safeguarding
• Maria Tamellini, Co Founder and COO, Gamer Safer
• James Smith, Head of Trust and Safety, Protect Group International (PGI)

11:45 – 12:30

Uniting for impact: national and transnational state collaboration

As technology continues to outpace traditional methods of investigation and prosecution, governments and law enforcement agencies face growing challenges in combating online child sexual abuse and exploitation. This session will explore actionable strategies on how governments can strengthen legal frameworks, work collaboratively with industry, enhance international collaboration and harmonization, and support proactive measures to address transnational crimes.

Introduction and moderation by Antonio Labrador Jimenez, WeProtect Board member and Team Leader, Fight Against Child Sexual Abuse, European Commission

Panellists:

• Sambath Sokunthea, Deputy Secretary General, General Secretariat of the Cambodia National Council for Children, Cambodia
• Shem Nyakutu, Secretary, Children’s Services, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Kenya
• Kate Charlet, Head of Global Privacy, Safety, and Security, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google
• Brenno Andrade, Commander, Cyber Crimes Division, Police, Brazil
• Lt. Col. Abdulrahman AlTamimi, Deputy Director General, International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Interior, UAE

13:30 – 13:40

Video message from the eSafety Commissioner, Australian Government, Julie Inman Grant

13:40 – 14:30

Shifting safety on a regional scale

International cooperation and globally aligned approaches are essential for ensuring that all children can explore the digital world without fear of abuse or violence. This panel will bring together high-level representatives from regional bodies across the world to share their respective and shared challenges, showcase successful initiatives and spark further action at the national and international level.

Introduction and moderation by Sheema Sen Gupta, WeProtect Board member  and Director Child Protection, UNICEF

Panellists:

• Marja Ruotanen, Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity, Council of Europe
• Angela Martins, Acting Director for Social Development, Culture and Sport,  African Union

14:30 – 15:30

The future of regulation

Can regulation keep pace with the rate of technological change? What’s on the horizon and how can be join up global responses to close the gaps? What needs to be done to support countries at the beginning of their regulatory journey? The session will look at key emerging issues, the impact of current regulations on child safety, and discuss the need for a coherent global framework with clear targets for the future.

Introduction and moderation by Sarah Blight, Head of OS Strategic Partnerships and Security, Online Safety Group, Ofcom

Panellists:

• Soyoung Park, Non-Proliferation Division Manager, Digital Sex Crime Content Review Bureau, Korea Communications Standards Commission , Republic of Korea
• Tajeshwari Devi, Acting Commissioner, Online Safety Commission, Fiji
• Arda Gerkens, President, Authority for the prevention of online Terrorist Content and Child Sexual Abuse Material, Netherlands
• Abdelaziz Alzarooni,  Team Leader – Digital Awareness, UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; Chairman – International Child Online Protection group, International Telecommunication Union

16:00 – 16:30

Reframing the future: a new narrative and lessons from India

How we talk about child sexual exploitation and abuse online matters. Our words and language can make the difference between salience and dismissal, between hope and fatalism, between collective action and stepping back. In a recent landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India ruled that individuals can face criminal liability for viewing, downloading, storing, or distributing child pornography. This session takes a first-hand look at Just Rights for Children Alliance’s experience of delivering landmark change through the courts and legislation.

Introduction from Steve Grocki, WeProtect Global Alliance Board Member and Chief, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, United States Department of Justice

Speaker: Bhuwan Ribhu, Founder, Just Rights for Children Alliance

16:30 – 17:00

Closing address

• Iain Drennan, Executive Director, WeProtect Global Alliance
• Lt. Col. Dana Humaid AlMarzooqi, Director General,  International Affairs Bureau, UAE Ministry of Interior; WeProtect Board member
• UNICEF Youth Advocate, Abdul Mukeet