Sira Rego agrees with UNICEF on Spain's participation in an international dialogue on the challenges of digitisation

The Minister for Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, together with the UNICEF representative in China, Amakobe Sande

The Minister for Youth and Children, Sira Rego, has agreed with UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) to the participation of the Government of Spain, through the Ministry of Youth and Children, in an international dialogue to face the challenges of digitalisation. China, Australia, the United Kingdom and the Philippines will also participate in the event, which will take place on 19 June 2026.

The invitation was formalised by UNICEF's representative in China, Amakobe Sande, in a working meeting held during minister Rego's institutional visit to the Asian country. For Rego, Spain's participation shows that "the international community is closely following the efforts being made by the Government of Spain to guarantee secure digital environments".

During the meeting, held at UNICEF headquarters in Beijing, both agreed that digital transformation is one of the major challenges of the century. In this regard, both Rego and Sandre highlighted the impact that the deregulation of digital environments is having, particularly on developmental stages such as childhood and adolescence.

Sira Rego stressed that the work of the Government of Spain in this area "is being recognised and is serving as a guide for other countries". Along these lines, the Minister for Youth and Children noted that the Law for the Protection of Minors in Digital Environments is currently being processed in the Lower House of Parliament. Likewise, Rego expressed her confidence that "the attention that other countries are paying to Spain's position will help the law to be approved in the legislative chamber with the greatest possible consensus".

Ultimately, Sira Rego affirmed that the participation of the Ministry of Youth and Children in this international dialogue "is consistent with our commitment to the UN system, to dialogue and to multilateralism". According to Minister Rego, it is a geopolitical position that is "constructive and extraordinarily necessary at a time when some powerful countries have decided to overturn international law and aspire to the law of the strongest".

Yesterday, the Minister for Youth and Children announced the commitment reached with the China International Cooperation Centre for Language Education under the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China to promote youth exchange activities between the two countries.

Sira Rego ratified this commitment in writing with Yu Yunfeng, representative of the Asian institution, and expressed her satisfaction with an agreement "that will open up new opportunities for young people through intercultural cooperation".

The Minister for Youth and Children underlined the importance of "promoting joint initiatives aimed at the development of young people and strengthening cooperation between the two countries through exchange programmes, cultural and sporting activities and youth volunteering".

Non official translation