As awareness centre Child Focus develops awareness tools on safe and responsible use of the Internet and informs parents, teachers and the public about children’s use of the internet and new technologies.  The aim is to provide children, parents and teachers knowledge and tools for guidance and to empower children using information and communication technologies.  Child Focus also has a hotline against child abuse images found on the Internet and permits the public to sent reports . These activities are funded by the European Commission under the Safer Internet Programme. 

The Belgian awareness centre seeks to give children, parents and teachers advice and tips to avoid risks when using the Internet. At the same time the centre emphasizes the positive aspects of using information  and communication technologies. A strong and large network of national stakeholders works very intensively together with the awareness centre in guiding the development of tools, giving advice and information on new technologies. Furthermore, these stakeholders helps us to  disseminate information. 

Child Focus initiates, coordinates and participates in a broad range of activities and initiatives with the aim to raise awareness in the area of online safety and child abuse images. Among others:

National campaigns

The Belgian Awareness Centre coordinates the Belgian celebration of Safer Internet Day and launches different campaigns on internet safety in collaboration with industry, Ministries and other partners.

Reaching different target groups

In order to reach and learn from the different target groups (children, parents and teachers), Child Focus developed different strategies. The Awareness centre gives regularly presentations for parents in schools, institutions... about children’s use of internet and provides parents with information and educational advice. Different tools, e.g board games, pocket cards... are being developed to empower young people in their use of new technologies.  The Awareness centre gives regularly training and advice to teachers on cyberbullying in schools.

Youth Panel

The Awareness centre is guided by a youth panel consisting  of young people between 14-17 years old. The youth panel provides information on their youth culture and their online life and  gives feedback on the tools developed. They also play an active and creative role by developing  peer-to-peer communication tools for young people. 

National collaboration

The awareness centre is highly respected and seen as  key resource and knowledge centre for children’s use of internet and mobile phones. The centre has a large network of relevant stakeholders (government, law enforcement, industry, non- governmental and welfare organisations...) and is regularly consulted for information, advice and collaboration.

The Belgian Safer Internet Centre

From October  1^st  2008, Child Focus, Foundation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children and Sensoa, Flemish expert organization on sexual health form the Belgian Integrated Network Safer Internet, now Belgian Safer Internet Centre. This Centre consists out of an awareness centre www.clicksafe.be and a hotline www.stopchildporno.be.

Report illegal online content to the national Hotline:  http://www.stopchildporno.be/index.php?language=en

The coordinator of the Belgian Safer Internet Centre:

Child Focus acts as coordinator of the Belgian Integrated Network Safer Internet. Sensoa is consortium partner and provides specialized information.