Maestral Learning Webinar: Child Online Violence in MENA

By Maestral International

Child Online Violence: Understanding the Landscape in MENA

Tuesday, 15 September 2026
3:00–4:30 PM | Amman, Jordan (UTC+3) | Online

Children’s lives are increasingly connected to digital spaces, creating new opportunities but also new and evolving risks. The Child Online Violence: Understanding the Landscape in MENA webinar will bring together experts from across the development, civil society and private sectors to examine the scale, forms and drivers of technology-facilitated violence affecting children across the region. Through expert perspectives and a facilitated discussion, the webinar will explore what practitioners are seeing in their work, where the most significant gaps and challenges remain, and where greater collaboration could strengthen prevention and response. The session will draw together MENA-specific learning and practical recommendations for advancing children’s safety online.

This webinar will be in English with Arabic translation available.

Register for the webinar here

Panelists

Najia Hashemee
Advisor, Democratic Institutions and Processes in the Digital Era, UNDP

Najia Hashemee is a development practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in governance, with expertise spanning electoral assistance, political participation, parliamentary strengthening and civil society engagement. At UNDP, she designs and manages programmes supporting inclusive democratic processes and serves as the organization’s global focal point on women’s political participation. She has also led efforts to strengthen women’s and youth participation and previously managed political party and women’s participation programmes with the National Democratic Institute. During the webinar, Najia will explore how technology-facilitated violence affects families and intersects with gender-based violence.

Souzan Mohareb
Co-Founder, Deputy Chief Executive Director and Head of the Aid Department, Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD)

Souzan Mohareb brings more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, humanitarian response and business management. At ARDD, one of Jordan’s leading NGOs, she has helped expand legal aid, protection, education and social services for refugees, migrants and vulnerable Jordanians, while leading large-scale programmes and building partnerships with government ministries, UN agencies and national and international organizations. She is also Co-Founder and General Manager of ARDD Arab Renaissance for Development and Training, which provides legal, training and research services. During the webinar, Souzan will discuss the role of NGOs in preventing and responding to technology-facilitated violence in MENA.

Maher Al-Khaiyat
Co-Founder and CEO, AugentisAI

Maher Al-Khaiyat is a technology executive, founder and board member with more than 25 years of experience in artificial intelligence, digital transformation and business development across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. As Co-Founder and CEO of AugentisAI, he works with enterprises and governments to apply AI to complex business processes, real-time decision-making and multilingual engagement. His previous leadership roles include Microsoft and Ernst & Young, and he also serves on boards supporting fintech, technology and digital skills development in Jordan. During the webinar, Maher will offer a private-sector perspective on preventing and responding to technology-facilitated violence in MENA.

John Zoltner
Founder and CEO, AIChildSafety.org

John Zoltner has worked at the intersection of technology and social impact for more than 25 years and is a leading global advocate for addressing the potentially harmful effects of artificial intelligence on child development. At Save the Children, he developed and managed a Technology Advisory Board with Trust and Safety leaders from Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Snap and TikTok. He co-chairs the Technology Industry Working Group of the UN Protection through Online Participation initiative and is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Coalition for Digital Safety. His work spans coalition building, research and innovation, including AI-powered tools for humanitarian data analysis and the detection of online grooming. During the webinar, John will examine the role of AI-facilitated violence against children in MENA.

Vanja Kovac Ström
Senior Gender, Inclusion and Child Protection Adviser, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)

Vanja Kovac Ström is a gender, inclusion and child protection specialist with more than a decade of experience across international organizations, government mechanisms and civil society. At CIVIC, she works at the intersection of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and the Protection of Civilians, focusing on gender, inclusion and child protection in conflict and post-conflict settings. Her experience includes roles with UN Women, the OSCE and DCAF, as well as work supporting governments and civil society to strengthen gender equality and the protection of women and children affected by conflict. During the webinar, Vanja will explore the intersection of gender-based violence and online violence in conflict-affected settings.

Webinar Host and Panel Facilitator

Eman Ismail
Director, Maestral MENA

Eman Ismail is Director of Maestral’s Middle East and North Africa Office, providing strategic direction and technical leadership across the region. She brings more than 23 years of experience across the humanitarian, public and private sectors, with expertise in humanitarian action, policy influence, NGO coordination, institutional capacity strengthening and localization. Prior to joining Maestral, Eman served as MENA Regional Representative for the International Council of Voluntary Agencies and its Global Focal Point on Localization, and previously led large-scale refugee response programmes with CARE International in Jordan. Eman will host the webinar.

Leonora Borg
Senior Associate & Child & Adolescent Wellbeing Hub Lead, Maestral International

Leonora Borg has more than 25 years of experience providing safeguarding and child protection support across the public, private and third sectors in the UK and internationally. She leads Maestral’s Child & Adolescent Wellbeing Hub and specializes in the development and implementation of child protection strategies, policies, systems and practical guidance. Her technical expertise includes prevention and response to online violence, safeguarding in sport and business, and participatory monitoring and evaluation with children and young people. Leonora will facilitate the panel discussion.