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| Telecommunications
Telecommunications are at the basis of every child helpline: telephone based contacts remain the single most important means of contact, accounting for 79% of all contacts made to child helplines in 2008. Internet based contacts are of growing importance, 11% of all contacts in 2008 were through web-based communication methods. While children grow up in a world that is increasingly connected, not all children benefit equally from existing and emerging telecommunication technologies. Communication technologies should be accessible to all children, especially the vulnerable and marginalised child. CHI continues to advocate and search for new ways to use telecommunication technologies and reach all children wherever they are. In practice CHI advocates for several distinct goals: 1. Allocation of a short toll free telephone number to all child helplines 2. Harmonisation of telephone numbers for child helplines 3. Linking child helplines to telecom regulators and providers Allocation of a short toll-free telephone number to all child helplines CHI strives for the allocation of a short, easy-to-remember telephone number to every child helpline in the world that is free of charge (i.e. toll-free) for the caller and the child helpline. In a world where not all children have the financial means to pay for a telephone call, a toll-free number is pivotal. It can mean the difference between life and death, especially for marginalised children such as street children. Data of CHI on the contacts that child helplines have with the children shows that child helplines with toll-free numbers are called ten times more often on average! Harmonisation of telephone numbers for child helplines CHI advocates at the international, regional and national level for the regional harmonisation of telephone numbers for child helplines. By having the same number in every country where possible, children always know where to contact a child helpline. This is of increasing importance when cross-border trafficking and movement of children is increasing rapidly. Child helplines in some regions already have access to a harmonised number. In Europe, advocacy efforts by CHI have led to the allocation of the number 116 111 to child helplines by the European Commission. Many countries are using this number already. In South Asia, child helplines in several countries (India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh) are making use of the toll-free short number 1098. In Africa, there is a strong movement towards harmonisation with the number 116: Kenya, Zimbabwe, Guinee Conakry and Mozambique are currently using the number. In other countries the number has been allocated or child helplines are working currently on this issue with their telecom partners. The CHI network will continue to advocate for the full implementation of these regional numbers and to look for opportunities to harmonise numbers for child helplines in other regions as well. Linking child helplines with telecom regulators and providers By linking individual child helplines to national telecommunication regulators and service providers, CHI assists child helplines in protecting more children. With adequate support, child helplines can focus on long-term strategy and stability, essential to providing quality services to children. To achieve these (and other) goals, CHI partners with organisations and telecom providers on the international, regional and national level. For example, CHI has been working with the International Telecom Union (ITU), the UN body responsible for information and communication technologies, since 2005. The ITU has issued several declaration and statements on the importance of child helplines: the Tunis Agenda and Commitment and the Supplement on the allocation of 116 111 to child helplines. CHI also cooperates with telecommunication providers. For the texts of these declarations and statements, please click here. top |
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