“Every child’s life is unique, meaningful and precious and every child has a right to dignity and safety. Yet today, global society is failing its children. Millions of children are being abused and exploited in tragic and unspeakable ways, and on an unprecedented scale all over the world”. These dramatic words mark the beginning of the “Declaration of Rome”, the document which 150 participants at the World Congress on “Child Dignity in the Digital World”, that took place from 3 to 6 October at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, read out to Pope Francis this morning. “Technology’s exponential advancement and integration into our everyday lives is not only changing what we do and how we do it, but who we are”. And although much of their impact has been “very positive”, we must acknowledge the “social ills” that are harming especially “the most vulnerable members of society”. “Today – the Declaration reads – increasingly extreme and dehumanizing content is available at children’s fingertips. The proliferation of social media means insidious acts, such as cyberbullying, harassment and sextortion, are becoming commonplace. Specifically, the range and scope of child sexual abuse and exploitation online is shocking. Vast numbers of sexual abuse images of children and youth are available online and continue to grow unabated”. Hence the invitation, or better said, the call for action issued by the signatories to the Declaration. The call is addressed to companies working in the field of new technologies, to governments, families and communities. “We must work together to seek positive, empowering solutions for all” and to promote responsible use by all. We must ensure that all children have safe access to the Internet to enhance their education, communications and connections”. “This is a problem that cannot be solved by one nation or one company or one faith acting alone, it is a global problem that requires global solutions. It requires that we build awareness and that we mobilize action from every government, every faith, every company and every institution”.