Nus Ghani kicked off her busy Conservative Party Conference schedule yesterday by attending a reception hosted by the children’s charity, Barnardo’s.
The theme of the reception this year was ‘Childhoods in a Digital World’: an issue set to become all the more pressing in the coming years. Whilst technological development has created a wealth of opportunities for children, it presents new threats and it is vital that children are equipped to use digital devices safely.
During her time in Parliament, Nus Ghani has worked very closely with Barnardo’s, as part of her work on the Home Affairs Select Committee and beyond. Last year, Nus chaired a national inquiry, backed by Barnardo’s and the Home Affairs Select Committee, into harmful sexual behaviour among children. The inquiry highlighted the pivotal role that the Internet plays in harmful sexual behaviour in children and the importance of parental responsibility for children’s use of the Internet.
Commenting on the event, Ms Ghani said: “I am always pleased to support Barnardo’s in their work in protecting children. This reception was a great way to raise further awareness about the issue of children growing up in a digital age and the dangers this can present.
As an MP you are asked to help parents and children dealing with abuse, bullying and sexual assault. My experience in Wealden, from Hailsham, Uckfield to Crowborough and the surrounding villages, has given me an insight to the perspective of parents as well as the challenges children face in the modern world.
We are all responsible for ensuring that our children are kept safe; increasingly, this means that we must face the threats presented online. This is brought home by a study carried out by Barnardo’s this year, which found that a quarter of young people aged 13-15 had communicated with a stranger on social media.
In order to support young people in an age of widespread access to digital devices, it is imperative that they are equipped with the proper skills required to navigate this digital landscape safely.
I am glad that the Government continues to work with schools, local authority, police and voluntary organisations in order to protect children online and it is important that this protection continues to evolve in line with digital developments.”
