Against the backdrop of profound changes in digital habits and the emergence of new technology-related risks, our association remains committed to protecting children, combating child sexual abuse, and preventing sexual violence against minors, including in the digital environment.
On May 28, 2026, our president had the honor of participating, as a member of theChildSafetyON coalition, in the G7 Digital side event held at the Ministry of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy, and Digital Sovereignty in Bercy, at the invitation of Ms. Anne Le Hénanff, Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs.
On this occasion, Elien Rebirth was represented alongside its partner organizations ECPAT Franceand theFondation pour l’Enfance, which are also members of theChildSafetyON coalition. Together, they are leading a joint effort to strengthen the protection of minors online, prevent sexual violence against children, and develop appropriate responses to the new challenges posed by the digital age.
Focused on the protection of minors online and the preservation of our democracies in the age of social media, this meeting brought together representatives from government, international institutions, the digital sector, researchers, experts, and civil society around a common goal: to strengthen the protection of children and adolescents in the face of growing digital challenges.
Organized as part of France’s G7 presidency, this event was intended to inform the discussions at the Digital Ministerial Meeting held the following day. The protection of minors online was among the priorities championed by France during its presidency.
Three Major Issues at the Heart of the Discussions
The discussions centered on three key areas:
- Strengthen the protection of minors in digital spaces by developing more effective mechanisms for prevention, detection, and protection against the risks to which children may be exposed online.
- Safeguarding our democracies in the face of challenges posed by social media, by exploring ways to better protect young people from harmful content, manipulation, and new phenomena related to digital use.
- Anticipate new risks associated with the development of generative artificial intelligence, whose rapid evolution raises major challenges in the areas of digital security and child protection.
Practical expertise shared with public policymakers
Drawing on its experience working with victims and its commitment to preventing child sexual abuse, sexual violence against children, and online violence, Elien Rebirth contributes to national and European discussions aimed at strengthening child protection measures.
This participation in an international event demonstrates the importance placed on the expertise of on-the-ground actors in shaping public responses to digital challenges. Through the collective effort led by the ChildSafetyON coalition—of which Elien Rebirth is a member alongsideECPAT France, the Fondation pour l’Enfance,CAMELEON Association,e-Enfance/3018,Enfance Majuscule, and Be Brave France …, as well as other dedicated organizations, we are helping to convey to public policymakers the realities observed on the ground, the needs of victims, and the challenges faced daily by those working to prevent and combat violence against children.
This collective effort makes it possible to bring shared expertise to French and European institutions, to ensure that survivors’ voices are better heard, and to help shape public policies that are more ambitious, coordinated, and protective of children’s rights, safety, and dignity.
Working Together to Build a Safer Digital Environment
In the face of rapid changes in the digital landscape, no single stakeholder can act alone. Protecting children requires a collective effort involving government authorities, international institutions, specialized organizations, researchers, experts, digital companies, and platforms.
It is by combining our expertise, our on-the-ground experience, and our capacity for innovation that we will be able to develop concrete, sustainable, and effective solutions to promote children’s safety, rights, and dignity.
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to Ms. Anne Le Hénanff for her invitation and for the trust she has placed in civil society representatives, as well as to all the speakers for the quality and richness of our discussions.
This meeting serves as a reminder of a fundamental principle: child protection is a collective responsibility. As digital transformation accelerates, it is up to us—in France, in Europe, and around the world—to continue our efforts to make the safety, rights, and dignity of children a lasting priority.
We remain committed to working alongside our partners to help build a safer digital environment, where every child can grow up in a setting that respects their fundamental rights.