DIGITAL SAFETY OF CHILDREN: LEGAL EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Today, Turan-Astana University hosted an expert meeting with Meruert Bekisheva, Police Lieutenant Colonel and PhD candidate at the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The meeting focused on pressing issues of victimological prevention of violence against minors, specifically exploring the opportunities and limits of digital legal education through the example of the Qorgau+ platform.
At the present stage, protecting children from violence is not only the task of the law enforcement system, but also the shared responsibility of the state, families, educational organizations, and society as a whole. Amid rapid digitalization, this issue is taking on new dimensions - today, potential threats can arise not only in real life, but also in the virtual space.
The internet has become an integral part of the younger generation's daily life, opening up broad opportunities for education and communication. At the same time, the digital environment carries risks of cyberbullying, psychological pressure, online fraud, the spread of illegal content, and the involvement of minors in unlawful activities. Moreover, children are not always able to independently recognize a threat, assess its consequences, and respond appropriately.
This is precisely why victimological prevention - as a system of measures aimed at preventing situations in which minors may become victims of unlawful acts - is becoming particularly relevant.
During the meeting, Meruert Bekisheva elaborated on the potential of digital legal education, examining the Qorgau+ platform as one of the tools for improving legal literacy and fostering a culture of safe behavior.
Special attention was paid to the following key areas:
-Prevention of violence against children - timely identification of risk factors and developing skills to recognize potentially dangerous situations.
-Digital legal education - expanding the knowledge of minors, parents, and educators regarding children's rights, protection methods, and response algorithms to threats.
-Capabilities of the Qorgau+ platform - applying digital tools within the system of offense prevention and protection of minors.
-Limits of digital solutions - understanding that technological tools should complement, rather than replace, adult attention, trust-based communication, and timely professional assistance.
An important part of the meeting was a lively discussion with students about practical cases related to the safety of minors in the digital environment. Participants examined the role legal knowledge can play in preventing dangerous situations and why seeking help from law enforcement agencies in a timely manner often becomes a decisive factor in protecting a child.
A principled stance was separately emphasized: no digital platform can replace human involvement, trust, and adult responsibility. Effective child protection is only possible through the joint efforts of families, educational institutions, government bodies, and the law enforcement system.
The meeting served as an effective platform for professional dialogue on modern methods of protecting the rights of minors. For students, addressing this topic allowed them to see the interconnection between law, digital technologies, and public safety, as well as to recognize their own role in shaping a responsible and safe digital culture.
Currently, Turan-Astana University pays special attention to discussing pressing social issues, creating conditions for dialogue with representatives of government agencies and practicing specialists. Such meetings help future professionals not only broaden their theoretical knowledge, but also gain a deeper understanding of the real challenges facing modern society.
