El Observatory of Cybercrime and Digital Evidence in Criminal Investigations (OCEDIC) of the Universidad AustralIn partnership with UNICEF and with the support of the Ministry of Justice of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, the Congress was held. “Addressing risks in digital environments for children and adolescents.”
The congress took place on Thursday, September 25th, in the Golden Hall and the President Alfonsín Hall of the Buenos Aires City Legislature. The event was held both in person—with all available spaces filled—and online. streaming via UNICEF Argentina's YouTube channel. The event takes place within a context of great technological advances and globalization of telecommunications, where phenomena such as the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, the grooming’s most emblematic landmarks, the ciberbullying and sextortion They represent some of the most urgent challenges in child protection.
From left to right: Guillermo Yacobucci (Universidad Austral); Inés Weinberg (President of the Superior Court of Justice of CABA) and Gabino Tapia (Minister of Justice of CABA)
The main objective of this training event promoted by OCEDIC and UNICEF was to exchange experiences and provide tools for research, prevention and intervention in matters of cybercrime in which children and adolescents are victims.
The leading role of OCEDIC
OCEDIC, under the direction of its director Daniela DupuyShe was a key player in the organization and development of the congress. The Director of OCEDIC had a prominent role both at the beginning and end of the event.
In outlining the state of affairs at both the international and national levels, Dupuy She explained: “This is what happens when prevention isn't enough. Internationally, reports of online sexual exploitation cases reach 20.5 million.” The data cited by the specialist comes from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
“These are children, babies, girls under 13 years old who are sexually abused. These images are shared, distributed, traded, and sold among members of international child sex trafficking networks. This number of reports results in almost 63 million files, including photos and videos, internationally,” he stated.
Dupuy also referred to the challenge currently presented by artificial intelligence, which led to an increase in 1.325 percent of the number of cases worldwide. “The face of any of our children and a body created with AI performing some sexual activity is sold internationally,” he warned.
In Argentina, so far in 2025, according to data from the Public Prosecutor's Office of the City of Buenos Aires, a total of 107.900 cases have already been filed. "Since last year, the number of AI-generated images filed in our country has tripled," he explained.
Next, Dupuy introduced Pilar Ramirez, Vice President of National Capacity Building at the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, during the first panel, which analyzed the current state of violence against children and adolescents originating in digital environments. Dupuy also participated in the closing ceremony of the congress alongside María Elena Ubeda, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Argentina.
Pilar Ramírez from International Center for Missing
& Exploited Children.
“The fight against these abhorrent behaviors related to child sexual exploitation, such as grooming and sextortion, where the victims are children and adolescents, cannot be the task of just a few. Each of us must be an active part of this battle. From our Observatory, and together with UNICEF and all the stakeholders who participated in this congress, we invite you to reflect on how we can contribute and commit to being an active part of this change that we so desperately need, so that we do not give up in this crucial fight aimed at protecting our children and adolescents,” said Dupuy.
From left to right: Marcela Czarny (Chicos.net); Amparo Zavalía (OCEDIC) and Cora Steinberg from Unicef.
OCEDIC's work in prevention was also represented through its specific initiatives. Amparo Zavalia, coordinator of OCEDIC goes to schoolA, presented on the panel that addressed “The role of social organizations and academia in the prevention and management of violence in digital environments.” Among its areas of focus, OCEDIC also highlighted its OCEDIC-TikTok Project.
Daniela Dupuy, director of OCEDIC.
The congress was attended by officials, judges, prosecutors, researchers, representatives from the private sector (Meta, Tik Tok and Telecom), academics, and social organizations (such as Chicos.net and the Argentine Advertising Council), reflecting the complexity of the comprehensive approach promoted by OCEDIC.
The panel included the Minister of Justice of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Gabino Tapia; the Representative of UNICEF Argentina, Rafael Ramirez Mesec; the President of the Superior Court of Justice of the City of Buenos Aires, Inés Weinberg; the Vice President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Province of Buenos Aires, Sergio Torres; and the Director of the Department of Criminal Law of the Universidad AustralGuillermo Yacobucci.
The congress concluded with the presentation of certificates and the Declaration of Interest for the UNICEF-UNESCO Kids Online Study, an award granted by the Legislature of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. The documentary “Cyberbullying of Children and Adolescents Online,” produced by Ocedic, was also declared of interest for social communication. Dupuy, representing the entire team that collaborated on the documentary, received a diploma presented by Buenos Aires City Representative Gimena Villafruela.
The full details of the congress can be viewed at this link
