UNWE Supported the Campaign “Keep the Child Safe in the Internet”

The UNWE supported the social campaign of Lev Ins "Keep the Child Safe on the Internet". In the Ceremonial Hall of the university the campaign team delivered a lecture to students, university lecturers and their children. The initiative is aimed at preventing the online bullying and abuse of children of different ages in the digital space. The lecturer was the cyber expert Yavor Kolev who acquainted the audience with the risks for adolescents on the Internet and gave valuable advices on ways to prevent it.

The Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov set the beginning of a long-term cooperation aimed at preventing the attacks on children in the digital space. He emphasized on the seriousness of the problem of cyberbullying and the necessuty of qualitative information for children and young people about the threats lurking in the cyberspace.

Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov outlined that the goal is to help children in the quickly changing digital environment. "Our university is one of the leaders in digitalization where various disciplines in the field of security are taught so we want to actively participate in the initiative as well as to show our commitment to the problem", pointed out also the Rector.

Prof. Dimitrov introduced the lecturer Yavor Kolev who had been a lecturer in cybersecurity at the UNWE and paid attention to his long biography at the General Directorate for Fight against Organized Crimes and his extensive experience in the field of cybersecurity.

The Rector assured that in the future the UNWE will continue to participate in the initiative through its representatives, including the Student Council, especially in school events because not only the young children are threatened but also 16-18 year olds. "The security in cyberspace is not only a technical problem, it is also responsibility of the whole society", added Prof. Dimitrov.

Yavor Kolev expressed his thankfulness for the invitation and pointed out that he had 25 years of experience as a police officer and had been dealing with the cybercrimes for a long period of time. He outlined that there are various cybercrimes - financial fraud, identity theft, cyber attacks, etc. "The red thread in my work is the counteraction to sexual crimes against children - a crime that destroys their lives. The topic is aimed at both children and parents who are the first barrier because if they are aware of the problem they would not allow their children to become victims", pointed out Mr. Kolev.

During the first part of the event a video was shown for children victims of sexual extortion. During the second part of the event Yavor Kolev delivered a presentation outlining the main threats to children on the Internet and the ways to prevent them. The expert emphasized on the type of content that teenagers should be careful about when posting information and photos about themselves and their loved ones in the digital space. He also outlined that there is no safe place on the Internet. The lecture ended with a discussion and the children had the opportunity to ask questions and share their impressions on the topic.

The event was the first of a series of initiatives that the UNWE in partnership with Lev Ins and Cyber 360 Academy will organize under the campaign Keep the Child Safe in the Internet.