Dr. Fadi Gerges, President of the National Human Rights Commission, including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, participated in the 25th General Assembly of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) and its accompanying annual conference, held in the Bahraini capital, Manama, under the title:
“Protecting Children in the Digital Space: Challenges, Legislation, and Preventive Measures.”

The conference brought together more than 200 participants, including speakers from several ministries and official bodies in the Kingdom of Bahrain, representatives of national human rights institutions members of the Arab Network, the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region affiliated with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as representatives of UN agencies, international and regional organizations, civil society institutions, human rights defenders, a distinguished group of experts, academics, and consultants, in addition to several ambassadors.

During the General Assembly meetings, held on 12 and 13 January, the presidency of the Arab Network was transferred from the National Centre for Human Rights of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the National Institution for Human Rights of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Bahraini Minister Praises the Network’s Efforts

H.E. Osama bin Saleh Al Alawi, Minister of Social Development of the Kingdom of Bahrain, commended the efforts of the Arab Network in organizing this high-level conference, congratulating the National Institution for Human Rights in Bahrain on assuming the rotating presidency of the Network for the year 2026.

He emphasized that the conference comes at a time of growing shared responsibilities to protect children’s rights amid rapid digital transformations, noting that it constitutes a leading platform for showcasing national experiences, exchanging regional and international expertise, and strengthening joint cooperation in the field of child protection.

Samar Al-Haj Hassan: A Commitment to a Participatory and Comprehensive Approach

Ms. Samar Al-Haj Hassan, former Chairperson of the Arab Network, stated that the conference and the 25th General Assembly are held under a highly significant theme, reflecting the continuation of the Network’s journey since its launch in Nouakchott in 2011.

She added that, through its General Assembly, Executive Committee, and General Secretariat, the Network continues its efforts to promote the values of human dignity and justice, stressing that the conference on “Protecting Children in the Digital Space” embodies the Network’s commitment to addressing emerging issues through a participatory and holistic approach.

Al-Derazi: A Dialogue Platform to Address Digital Challenges

For his part, H.E. Engineer Ali Ahmed Al-Derazi, Chairman of the National Human Rights Network and President of the National Institution for Human Rights in Bahrain, affirmed that the conference serves as an important dialogue platform highlighting the growing challenges faced by children in the digital space, and the consequent need for continuous development of legislation and preventive measures, as well as the establishment of effective protection mechanisms that keep pace with rapid digital transformations.

He noted that the digital environment is among the areas where children’s rights face increasing challenges, including exploitation, cyberbullying, privacy violations, and misuse of data, which has reinforced international attention to child protection.

Sultan Al-Jamali: The Need for Integrated Institutional Responses

H.E. Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali, Secretary-General of the Arab Network, stated that the digital space has become an integral part of the lives of children and adolescents, offering opportunities for learning and communication, while at the same time opening the door to increasing cyber threats, particularly in conflict-affected areas lacking adequate legal and digital protection.

He added that despite efforts by governments and national institutions, legislative and regulatory gaps persist, stressing the need for integrated institutional responses grounded in international standards and strengthened regional and international partnerships to ensure a safe and inclusive digital space that safeguards children’s dignity and rights everywhere.

Arab Recommendations on Protecting Children in the Digital Space

The conference concluded with a set of recommendations calling for:

• The enactment of legislation criminalizing and penalizing behaviors that violate children’s rights in the digital space,

• Restricting harmful online content,

• Strengthening protection mechanisms against exploitation and cyber violations, in line with international standards and with due consideration to cross-border cybercrime.

The recommendations also emphasized the establishment of legal and procedural frameworks to protect children’s personal data across all digital platforms, obliging digital service providers to adhere to responsible business conduct, adopting strict measures to prevent exploitation and privacy violations, and urging States to adopt unified standards to combat cybercrime and prevent offenders from exploiting jurisdictions with weaker legal frameworks.

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