Imagine a world where every learner feels safe and protected, not just in classrooms but also in the digital realms they navigate daily. This vision becomes a reality at UNESCO’s Global Symposium titled “Connected, Protected, and Empowered,” focusing on ending online and tech-facilitated violence. Scheduled for November 2025 in the vibrant city of Bangkok, Thailand, this event promises to pioneer new pathways in education and digital safety.
Challenges in the Digital Sphere
In today’s hyper-connected world, digital spaces can be as perilous as they are promising. Instances of cyberbullying and tech-facilitated gender-based violence threaten the very fabric of equitable learning environments. According to UNESCO, these challenges disproportionately affect girls and marginalized communities, making equitable education a critical concern.
A Global Gathering with a Mission
The symposium, sponsored by UNESCO’s Bangkok division, is part of a broader commitment to uphold peace, human rights, and sustainable development through education. It welcomes an exclusive assembly of ministry representatives, school leaders, teachers, and youth advocates, all of whom are keen on crafting a safer educational landscape.
Building on Momentum
This gathering isn’t a standalone endeavor; it builds upon the groundwork laid by UNESCO’s thought-provoking 2025 webinar series. Each session explored essential themes like prevention and response ecosystems, school-based approaches, and teacher preparedness – all vital components in addressing technology-facilitated violence.
Pioneering Initiatives for Digital Safety
The symposium aims to:
- Strengthen education’s role in preventing and responding to online harms.
- Enhance teacher capacity and whole-school approaches.
- Promote media and information literacy, nurturing savvy digital citizens.
- Consolidate partnerships spanning education, protection, civil society, and technological sectors.
A hands-on Marketplace of Practices will spotlight innovative tools and programs that bridge collaboration gaps among schools, child-protection agencies, and tech platforms.
Reflecting on the Past for a Safer Future
Looking back at the pivotal 2025 webinar series, three significant themes emerged:
- Mapping prevention and response ecosystems.
- School-based interventions and teacher preparedness.
- Addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
These discussions set the stage for actionable and sustainable strategies to foster digital safety at a global scale.
Aligned with Global Objectives
This initiative aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4, which advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education. It’s a noble pursuit that dovetails with broader global efforts to safeguard learners against the nuances of digital aggression and to promote a culture of lifelong learning and inclusion.
As the world converges for this symposium, there lies a shared determination to transform education systems into conduits of safety, empowerment, and resilience – ensuring that every learner thrives not just academically, but holistically, in all spaces they inhabit.