Pro bono legal aid, helpline among planned initiatives to help victims of online harms

SINGAPORE – Victims of on-line harms can expect many companies devoted to supporting them, such as no cost authorized support and a helpline, to be out there by the close of 2022.

Online harms incorporate staying stalked just about and cyber bullied, and befriended by men and women who use fake identities.

The forthcoming initiatives ended up uncovered at an function organised by Daylight AfA, also identified as the Singapore Jointly Alliance for Action to tackle online harms, particularly those specific at females and girls, on Wednesday (July 27).

The cross-sector alliance, started by the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) in July 2021, experienced a 1-year tenure that ended on Wednesday.

But some of its perform will carry on, this kind of as an arrangement with the Regulation Society Professional Bono Services to have about 100 volunteer attorneys offer pro bono aid through authorized clinics to victims of on-line harms.

Particulars of the plan, these types of as how victims can signal up for the legal clinics, are nevertheless in the will work, but it is expected to be operational by the close of this 12 months.

Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, who is president of non-revenue organisation Singapore Muslim Women’s Association and a member of Daylight AfA, reported the support will be administered by charity SG Her Empowerment (She), which was established up in April by many customers of Daylight AfA.

The charity will also perform with the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations to present support expert services to victims, these as a dedicated helpline.

Other initiatives in the functions by the charity contain a guide on on the internet harms.

This will be utilised to facilitate education classes for She staff and experienced counsellors in its lover organisations to guidance victims, claimed Madam Hazlina.

The unveiling of these upcoming designs follows MCI’s announcement in June on proposed legislation to greatly enhance online security for end users.

The new proposed guidelines include things like demanding specified social media platforms to implement group criteria and content moderation processes, so as to minimise users’ possibility of exposure to detrimental on the net material. A general public consultation on them is ongoing.