Marking of Safer Internet Day

ZAGREB, 11 February 2015 – In Croatia and throughout the world, 10 February 2015 was marked as the Safer Internet Day with the slogan “Let’s create a safer Internet together”. The Safer Internet Day, which is always marked on the second day of the second week in the month of February, is an excellent occasion to speak about safe and responsible use of Internet and mobile devices, with a special emphasis on the protection of children and youth. Like in the previous years, Croatian elementary and secondary schools marked the Safer Internet Day by various activities aimed at raising the awareness of children and youth about possible abuse and violence on the Internet and about safer Internet use.
 
The purpose is to include as many pupils as possible into activities that are carried out on that day in the entire world and to raise their awareness about the issue of Internet safety. It is important to mention that Internet safety of children and youth is hard to ensure without proper review and improvement of the level of knowledge of those who are supposed to support and protect them, of those responsible, that is, of parents and elementary school teachers, in particular. Problems arise if parents lack the knowledge and skills necessary for use and protection against abuse on the Internet. Therefore, the training of parents in computer skills and Internet basics is as important as the training of children so that they can help their children with proper use of the Internet. One of the most efficient ways in which parents can protect their children is by joint searching and browsing of websites so that parents can become familiar with interests and habits of their children on the Internet.  
 
With a view to achieving a high level of protection of children on the Internet, Croatia founded the Safer Internet Centre in 2012. One of its main tasks is to inform and educate users (children, parents, teachers, and other Internet users) about safer web surfing and protection of personal data and privacy.The mission of the Safer Internet Centre is to establish a reference centre for knowledge and skills that will set standards for safe Internet use and to promote values of Internet technologies for the benefit of the wider community. More information is available at the website http://www.sigurnijiinternet.hr/aktualno/aktualno/

ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.