Commitment to Children’s Digital Rights: A Manifesto for the Future
originally written for Medium here
By Nina Jane Patel
Recognizing the profound impact of digital technologies in the realms of communication, education, play, and development for children, Kabuni aligns its approach with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), particularly influenced by the UNCRC’s General Comment No 25. This directive provides a comprehensive guide on adapting these rights within the digital environment, emphasizing the importance of full compliance with the Convention’s obligations. By embracing the Child Rights by Design framework, Kabuni dedicates itself to creating a digital world that is not only safe and inclusive but also empowering for children. This commitment ensures that Kabuni’s digital products and services are developed with the highest ethical standards, prioritizing children’s rights, safety, and well-being, thereby reflecting a dedication to responsible and beneficial innovation that honors and upholds the rights of children in this increasingly digital age.
Kabuni’s mission is to educate with purpose to unlock the design potential in every human being and elevate life and this represents our pioneering commitment to integrate children’s rights at the core of our digital innovation.
Innovating with Purpose
Our vision is simple yet profound: a world where every child can safely and freely learn, grow, and thrive within the digital landscape. We invite you to join us in this pursuit, as we forge a path toward a brighter, child-centered future enabled and elevated by technology.
Our Research & Safety initiative is a testament to our commitment. In collaboration with various organizations, we focus on harnessing digital innovation for the betterment of children and young people. Our aim is clear: to ensure that the evolving digital world is a safe, supportive, and empowering space for young learners.
Our research spans three critical areas: promoting play in the technological realm, advancing global education, and guiding stakeholders with comprehensive strategies. At the heart of our mission is the inclusion of children’s perspectives, ensuring our efforts translate into tangible benefits for them. Read the full manifesto here.
Kabuni’s Principles for Children’s Rights in Digital Design
Our core mission is to unlock and nurture the design potential in every child, enhancing their life experiences. We firmly believe that integrating children’s rights into digital innovation is crucial. Our approach is rooted in the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), especially General Comment No 25, which provides guidance on applying these rights in the digital world.
We’re dedicated to shaping our digital offerings to safeguard and promote children’s rights. Embracing the Child Rights by Design framework, we strive to create a digital learning environment that is safe, inclusive, and empowering for children.
Who Should Embrace This Manifesto?
This manifesto is a call to action for our community, parents, teachers, caregivers, children, and key stakeholders. It represents our unwavering dedication to the well-being and rights of children in the digital age. It’s a guiding light for all involved in the education and nurturing of children, emphasizing principles of equity, privacy, responsible innovation, and child participation.
The Necessity of This Manifesto
In today’s digital landscape, there’s a pressing need for a manifesto that champions child-centric innovation. We recognize the importance of designing technology that embodies values of privacy, safety, security, ethics, equality, inclusion, and human rights. Despite growing awareness, there are still significant gaps in implementing these principles across digital platforms and products. Our manifesto is a blueprint for overcoming these challenges and creating a safer, more inclusive digital world for children.
Empowering Every Child: Our Vision and Principles
We at Kabuni are committed to creating a digital environment where children’s rights are the cornerstone of innovation. Our 11 guiding principles ensure that every aspect of our work aligns with our ethos of non-discrimination, prioritizing the child’s best interests, promoting age-appropriate content, fostering responsible innovation, encouraging child participation, safeguarding privacy, and focusing on safety, well-being, development, and learning.
Join Our Ongoing Dialogue
Our manifesto is a living document, open to continuous refinement and improvement. We invite constructive discussions with all stakeholders, including our users, partners, and experts in child rights. Your insights and feedback are crucial in shaping our approach and upholding the highest standards in protecting children in the digital world.
Resources
We’ve compiled a comprehensive library of resources that have guided our manifesto and approach. These resources include works from the 5Rights Foundation, the UK Age Appropriate Design Code, various academic studies, and international legal frameworks, offering a rich foundation for our commitment to children’s digital rights.
Kabuni stands at the forefront of integrating advanced technologies like AI, VR, AR, and Blockchain into education, setting new industry standards for responsible technology integration. By adhering to our principles, we ensure that our innovations are not just cutting-edge, but also safe, beneficial, and rights-respecting for children and young people. Join us in this transformative journey, as we redefine the future of education.
Together, let’s make a meaningful difference in creating a safer, more inclusive digital world for children.