Plenary Session: Building a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Tracks
Track 1: Room LG19
Track 2: Room LG18
Track 3: Room LG17
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 |
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM |
LG19 - The Arthur Goodhart Lecture Theatre |
Overview
Emilio Puccio, Secretary-General, European Parliament Intergroup on Children's Rights
The Hon. Veronika Cifrová Ostrihonová MEP, Vice-Chair of the Child Rights Intergroup
Baroness Joanna Shields OBE, Global Advocate for Ethical AI and Online Safety, UK Parliament House of Lords
The Hon Marianna Madia MP, Member of the House of Representatives, Italy
Prof. Ernesto Caffo, Senior Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
Prof. Sonia Livingstone OBE FBA, Media@LSE and Director, Digital Futures for Children (DFC) centre, UK
Speaker
Mr Emilio Puccio
Secretary-General
European Parliament Intergroup on Children's Rights
Building a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Biography
Emilio Puccio serves as Secretary General of the European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights, which he has led since 2015. The Intergroup is a cross-party, cross-national network of over 150 MEPs and 25 child-focused organizations, working to mainstream children’s rights in all EU policies and legislation. As Secretary General, Emilio manages the Intergroup’s parliamentary, legislative, and advocacy work.
He sits on the advisory board of the EU Child Participation Platform and is a member of the Spanish inter-ministerial Expert Group on child safety online, established by the Spanish Prime Minister. He also contributes to the Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking and advises the EU’s Better Internet for Kids (BIK) initiative. Before his current role, Emilio worked extensively in human rights. He focused on business and human rights at the United Nations Global Compact in New York and supported human rights defenders through the Individuals at Risk Program at Amnesty International USA.
A qualified lawyer, Emilio also served as Administrative & Legal Assistant in the Italian foreign service. He holds a Juris Doctor magna cum laude in Law from the University of Palermo, a Master’s in International Business Management from EADA Business School in Barcelona, and a Master in Diplomatic Studies from the Italian Society for International Organizations (SIOI) in Rome. Emilio is committed to advancing children’s rights and building bridges across institutions, sectors, and countries to ensure a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for every child.
The Hon. Caterina Chinnici
Co-Chair
Child Rights Intergroup
Building a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Biography
The Hon. Veronika Cifrová Ostrihonová
Vice-Chair
Child Rights Intergroup
Building a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Biography
Ms Sira Rego
Spanish Minister for Children and Youth
Building a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Biography
The Hon Marianna Madia
Member of the House of Representatives
Building a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Biography
Baroness Joanna Shields
Member of the UK House of Lords, Founder of WeProtect Global Alliance, Global Advocate for Ethical AI and Online Safety
UK Parliament House of Lords
Building a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Biography
Baroness Joanna Shields OBE is a technology industry veteran, parliamentarian, and founder of WeProtect.
She served as the UK’s first Minister for Internet Safety & Security & UK Ambassador for Digital Industries and Digital Economy Adviser to the Prime Minister. A life peer in the House of Lords, she champions policies that protect children and advance ethical AI development.
With over three decades of leadership experience in the tech industry, Shields has built companies, products, and platforms that have transformed markets and reshaped industries. She held senior executive roles at Facebook, Google, AOL, and RealNetworks. As a CEO, she led Bebo and Veon to successful acquisitions and transformed BenevolentAI into a leader in AI-driven drug discovery.
Today, as the founder of Precognition, she advises governments and companies on creating AI-driven solutions that prioritise safety, human agency and empowerment. Shields serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on AI and the Transatlantic Commission on Election Integrity and was twice elected Co-Chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence.
Prof. Ernesto Caffo
Senior Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
University of Modena & Reggio Emilia
Building a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Biography
Prof. Sonia Livingstone
Director
Digital Futures for Children (DFC) Centre
Building a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Biography
