Thai prosecutors have joined forces with counterparts from ASEAN and China to address the growing threat of online child abuse. The initiative, launched at a conference in Brunei, highlights the need for cross-border legal cooperation.
A Joint Declaration in Brunei
On October 22, a delegation of Thai public prosecutors led by Deputy Attorney-General Chart Chaidejsuriya participated in the 16th China-ASEAN Prosecutors General Conference. The event took place at The Empire Brunei Hotel in Jerudong, bringing together legal officials from across the region to discuss digital safety.
The Scale of Digital Threats
Mr. Chaidejsuriya emphasized that while smartphones provide children with knowledge and entertainment, they also expose them to significant risks. These include online grooming, cyberbullying, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material. He noted that because such content can be stored on servers in one continent and used in another, local law enforcement efforts are often insufficient.
“These threats have been too widespread for a single government to cope,” he stated. “International cooperation on this issue now is not an option but is compulsory to guarantee that the digital world is safe for children.”
Harmonizing Legal Frameworks
The conference, themed “Protecting Children in the Digital Age: Harmonising Legal Frameworks and International Cooperation,” resulted in a joint declaration signed by regional prosecutors. This document expresses a collective intention to strengthen the protection of minors in the digital space. The Thai delegation also received a briefing on Brunei’s own legal perspective on digital child protection during their visit.
