UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday called for measures to protect children from unhealthy internet content at the second Internet Govern ability Forum in Brazil.

"The Internet opens new doors to cultures and knowledge for children, but can also be a risk for their security," Ban said in a statement read out at a press conference by Undersecretary-General Sha Zukang.

"The forum this year has protecting children as one of its main goals," said the statement.

Ban said the Forum is a space for dialogue rather than decision making, but he hopes attendees will be inspired to strive for an internet that would make the world safer and more just.

Speaking on his own behalf, Sha said, "We defend freedom but some regulatory mechanisms are needed. Freedom does not mean that we can do whatever we like. Is there anyone who would tolerate the use of the internet for terrorism or to send pornography to our children?"

Italy's deputy communications minister Luigi Vimercati said the forum should work to define common rules for internet governing and added that legislation was needed to protect children.

Some 2,000 representatives from 100 countries attended the forum that opened Monday and will last until Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2007)