Safe Digital Environments
Supporting safe digital environments for New Zealanders and New Zealand communities so they can interact freely, openly, and safely online.
Safe digital environments
Safe digital environments ensure that everyone can access, use, and share reliable information without fear.
UNESCO prioritises safe digital spaces as the foundation for open, informed, and democratic societies, recognising that meaningful access to information depends on trust and digital literacy.
Safe digital spaces enable equitable access to knowledge, protect the integrity of digital information ecosystems, and support community connection.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, this matters because our communities are diverse, and we value fairness and inclusion. Keeping digital spaces safe helps all New Zealanders confidently take part in society, express themselves openly, and contribute fully to our democracy.
Free flow of information
UNESCO recognises the: “free flow of ideas by word and image that contributes to peace, sustainability, poverty eradication and human rights”.
UNESCO recognises that human rights apply equally online and offline, and that the free flow of information carries obligations and responsibilities.
How will we support safe digital environments?
Our approach is to work in partnership with communities to support safe digital environments. We want to bring together civil society and communities to discuss ways to celebrate diversity through an increased understanding of human rights and supporting a more inclusive society for all.
Why have we made this a priority?
We believe we have a role to play in continuing to support diverse communities in Aotearoa New Zealand through our programmes and the work we are undertaking across our key themes at a local, national and international level.
Key to this is working together with our associate members, cooperating agencies and community groups, to promote our programmes and the work we are doing to promote safe digital environments, while addressing mis and disinformation.
In this work we recognise the unique New Zealand context, grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and informed by Māori tikanga and values as they sit at the heart of what UNESCO strives to achieve.
