Safer Internet Day 2025: Safeguarding Innocence
strategies against online child exploitation and abuse

On February 11, 2025, the global Marist community gathered for a powerful online event to mark Safer Internet Day, titled “Safeguarding Innocence: Strategies Against Online Child Exploitation and Abuse.” The event, hosted by the Secretariat of Solidarity-CMI, FMSI and Misean Cara, brought together experts, advocates, and Marist leaders to address the growing threats facing children in the digital world. This day underscored the urgent need to protect children from online dangers, highlighting the importance of vigilance, education, and proactive strategies to ensure their safety.

The Growing Risks and a Call to Action

The event’s core message was clear: children today face unprecedented risks online. Cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, online grooming, and exploitation are just a few of the dangers that children encounter in the digital space. With the increasing amount of time children spend online, the importance of safeguarding their wellbeing has never been more critical.

The event set out to accomplish three key objectives:

• Raise awareness about the risks children face online and discuss practical prevention strategies. 

• Empower children to take an active role in protecting their rights. 

• Build robust safeguarding systems that address both online and offline threats.

These objectives highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach that combines education, awareness, and institutional action to create a safer digital environment.

Insights from Experts

A series of impactful presentations followed, offering diverse perspectives and solutions for the protection of children in the digital realm. 

• Br. Ken McDonald, FMS Vicar General and FMSI President, opened the discussions by reiterating the Marist Institute’s unwavering commitment to child protection. He stressed the importance of creating environments where children can thrive, free from harm and exploitation, and called for collective action to uphold their dignity and rights. Br. Ken’s message was a call for all stakeholders—families, educators, policymakers, and community leaders—to unite in the effort to protect children from online harm.
• Following this, Agnes Reyes, a Lay Marist from the Philippines, presented a compelling video on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). The video featured real-life scenarios to illustrate how children are targeted online and underscored the importance of empowering children to recognize risks and take proactive steps to protect themselves. Her message was a poignant reminder that children are not merely passive victims but can also play an active role in their own safety.
• Bárbara Pimpão Ferreira, a Lay Marist from Brazil, then introduced the Campanha Defenda-se, an initiative designed to empower children to defend themselves against online and offline dangers. This campaign, which includes educational resources and videos, provides children with the tools to recognize threats and seek help from trusted adults. Ferreira highlighted how the campaign has been adapted for different cultures and languages, reaching children across the Americas and beyond, underscoring the need for culturally sensitive education in safeguarding efforts.
• Next, Mónica Yerena, a Lay Marist from Mexico, shared the results of a survey conducted among Marist adolescents and young people. The survey revealed alarming statistics: 62.8% of respondents had been contacted by strangers online, and 25% had experienced embarrassment due to inappropriate images or videos. Her presentation emphasized that while young people are digital natives, they still need guidance and support to navigate the online world safely. It was a call to action for greater education and awareness to help young people identify and respond to online risks.
• Valerie Philpott, Safeguarding Advisor at Misean Cara, wrapped up the expert presentations by discussing the steps needed to build effective safeguarding systems. She highlighted the dual nature of the internet—both a space for opportunity and a significant risk—and stressed the importance of digital literacy, clear reporting mechanisms, and collaboration between schools, parents, NGOs, and tech companies. Philpott’s insights emphasized that safeguarding isn’t merely about compliance but about creating a culture of care and protection for every child.

A Unified Commitment

The event concluded with closing remarks from Br. Diego Zawadzky, Assistant Director of the Secretariat of Solidarity-CMI. Br. Diego thanked the speakers and participants for their valuable contributions and reiterated the call for continued collaboration to protect children online. He emphasized that safeguarding children is a shared responsibility, requiring the collective effort of families, communities, institutions, and technology companies to create a safe environment for children to grow and thrive. 

As we observe Safer Internet Day 2025, the key message is that protecting children online is not just a one-time effort but an ongoing mission. The global Marist community, together with partners worldwide, must remain vigilant and committed to ensuring that every child feels safe, loved, and protected in the digital age. This collective responsibility calls on us all to take action—today and every day—to safeguard the innocence of children and build a digital world that fosters their wellbeing. 

Children are not just the future; they are the true Protagonists of Change, and it is through education and self-protection that a safer, brighter digital world, becomes possible.