The challenge for the Council of Europe (as for INSAFE) is in raising awareness of and in promoting the exercise of rights and freedoms online, in particular by developing and promoting the education, literacy and skills of users.

In response, the Council of Europe, in kind cooperation with INSAFE colleagues, has prepared an online version of its “Handbook on internet literacy – a guide for parents, teachers and young people” which explains and advises on the trends and terminology of the internet. This will soon be supplemented by a cartoon version of the Handbook aimed at younger children.

The Council of Europe has also prepared a Recommendation on empowering children and young people in the new information and communications environment which is scheduled for adoption by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 27 September 2006.

The Recommendation will underline inter alia the importance for users, including younger users and their educators (i.e. parents and teachers), to acquire the necessary skills to create, produce and distribute online content and communications in a manner which is both respectful of, and conducive to, their rights and freedoms. Such skills also enable users to better understand and deal with both content (for example violence and self-harm, pornography, discrimination and racism) and behaviours (such as grooming, bullying, harassment or stalking) carrying a risk of harm.

Within this context, the Council of Europe is also organising a Pan-European Forum on Human Rights in the Information Society: empowering children and young people, in Yerevan, Armenia, on 5 and 6 October 2006, in order to encourage and facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue and action in the field of media education, in particular with regard to common educational standards, best practices and human rights awareness.

The Forum is intended for all Council of Europe member and non-member States, representatives of civil society, the private sector and the media, as well as all other interested institutions, organisations and persons.