A security guard at a tourist facility in Istria caught a man filming naked children, prompting the Center for Missing and Exploited Children to intensify its campaign on protecting children's privacy at bathing areas.
A new disturbing incident was recorded at a tourist facility in Istria, where a security guard caught a man filming naked children. This case has once again exposed the real danger faced by the youngest and prompted the Center for Missing and Exploited Children to once again warn about the importance of responsible behavior by parents, tourism workers, and everyone who spends time near children.
It is precisely this kind of situation that is the reason why the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in cooperation with the Center for a Safer Internet, is conducting a campaign across the Adriatic coast and the mainland under the name "The Best Children's Swimsuit Is the One That Is Worn."
During the summer months, Center staff conduct educational sessions for children, parents, and employees in camps, parks, at bathing areas, and in larger tourist accommodation facilities. The focus is on detecting questionable activities and acting quickly. They also warn that cameras today can be hidden in everyday items such as glasses, watches, bags, pendants, or pens.
The campaign is being carried out on digital advertising spaces, social media, and through media reports.
Adults, including parents, must be wary of individuals who, without justifiable reason, linger near children, frequently look at them, point their phone or another object at them, take photos from unusual angles, or move to follow children. Warning signs include hiding devices, leaving the scene after being noticed filming, or showing an unusual interest in children who are not fully clothed.
These words were used by Tomislav Ramljak, president of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to highlight the key signs to watch out for.
The Center emphasizes the importance of not creating panic or entering into conflict on your own with a person suspected of filming children. Any suspicious behavior should be immediately reported to facility staff, a security guard, or the police. It is useful to remember the person's physical description, their location, and other details that facilitate subsequent actions.
Ramljak stressed that a swimsuit is not just a piece of clothing but one of the basic measures for protecting children's privacy.
The recent incident underscores the importance of educating parents and tourism staff. The security guard's intervention prevented potential further misuse of the footage. Therefore, we repeat: the safest swimsuit for a child is the one that is worn. On the beach, a child enjoys the same privacy, respect, and protection as anywhere else.
The Center calls on parents not to leave children naked on beaches and at pools, not to post their undressed photos on social media, and not to assume that a child is safe just because they are in a public and busy place. "Child protection begins with education, attention, and the readiness of adults to react. Children's privacy is not and must not be a tourist attraction," the Center stated.
