Millicom and UNICEF join forces to improve Child Online Protection in Latin America

Miami, 22 September, 2015 – Millicom and UNICEF host a series of workshops on Child Online Protection (COP) in El Salvador and Costa Rica.

Emerging markets telecoms operator Millicom and UNICEF today announced a series of high-level workshops on Child Online Protection (COP) in Latin America.

The workshops, which will take place this month in El Salvador (17 September) and Costa Rica (20-21 September) will bring together a group of high-level stakeholders from across the media, public, government and business, with a shared commitment to build safer environments for children online.

The workshops, hosted through Millicom’s Tigo operations in El Salvador and Costa Rica, aim to raise public awareness of the risks children now face online, with participation from the mobile industry association GSMA, and established non-government organisations including Oxfam.

The success of previous COP workshops in two other Tigo operations – Paraguay, which was the first of its kind in the region, and Rwanda – have so far been instrumental in increasing public awareness and driving strategies to address the issue.

Commenting on the strategic partnership, Millicom’s Head of Corporate Responsibility,Milka Pietikainen, said:

“As a responsible company, child protection is one of the most relevant social issues for us to tackle. While access to the internet can open up so many positive opportunities, there is also a clear demand from our customers who are parents and teachers to get support on child safety online and to take all measures necessary to protect children from harm.”

Pietikainen, continued: “The grim reality is that young people are increasingly at risk online from bullying and harassment, identity theft, targeted marketing using their personal information, and abuse. Millicom is uniquely placed within the telecommunications sector to respond to the increasing dangers that children encounter when they go online”.

Millicom has signed a formal three-year alliance with UNICEF to raise awareness of Child Online Protection, including developing and piloting a range of tools.

The Millicom / UNICEF alliance seeks to:

• Map the risks to and opportunities for children’s rights in the telecommunication sector.
• Develop and promote industry-specific guidance on how the telecommunication sector can improve respect for children’s rights, specifically through implementing the Children’s Rights and Business Principles.
• Develop case studies on lessons learned in implementing the Children’s Rights and Business Principles and the UNICEF and ITU Guidelines for Industry on Child Online Protection.

About Millicom

Millicom is a leading international telecommunications and media company dedicated to emerging markets in Latin America and Africa. Millicom sets the pace when it comes to providing digital lifestyle services to the world’s emerging markets, giving access to the world, primarily through mobile devices. Operating in 15 countries, Millicom offers innovative and customer-centric products. Millicom employs more than 10,000 people and provides mobile, cable, broadband, TV content, online and financial services to over 50 million customers. Founded in 1990, Millicom is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm under the symbol MIC. In 2013 Millicom generated revenue of $5.16 billion and EBITDA of $1.9 billion.