How to strengthen the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in Europe?
Both Presidencies place child and youth protection as a priority and wish to contribute to the promotion of the Lanzarote Convention, a unique international instrument for the prevention, protection, prosecution and integrated policies to protect children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. The 46 member states of the Council of Europe including all EU member states have ratified the Convention.
The hybrid seminar gathered representatives from approximately 20 member states of the European Union as well as European Union and Council of Europe officials.
Ms Zaruhi Gasparyan, from the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe, presented the Barnahus project of the EU and the Council of Europe. This project is a model in Europe for child-friendly and multidisciplinary response towards child sexual abuse with the responsibility to promote the model to avoid revictimisation and to provide the necessary support to child victims and witnesses of sexual abuse. Ambassador Nina Nordström, Permanent Representative of Finland to the Council of Europe, said that rights of child victims of violence can be addressed – and realised – by implementing the Barnahus Quality Standards. They have inspired Finland to start a process of continuous improvement in services for child victims.
Mr. Daniel Dotto, Deputy Director and Head of Unit, Governance and Public Administration for the European Commission (DG Reform) pointed out that ownership of reforms by the national public sector, quality and tailor-made technical support adapted to the local context and focus on the quality of governance are some of the key features of the work on the development of the Barnahus in the EU. This critical development of child friendly justice is led by national administrations in the EU with the support of the European Commission in partnership with the Council of Europe.
Ms. Frédérique Berrod, professor for European Union law at Sciences Po Strasbourg, explained the advantages and disadvantages of ratifying the Lanzarote Convention, concluding this would be beneficial for both the EU and the Council of Europe. According to M. Jeroen Schokkenbroek, Director of Anti-Discrimination in the Directorate General of Democracy at the Council of Europe, the ratification of the Lanzarote Convention by the EU would reinforce the European legal framework for the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse and would provide impetus for a more effective cooperation between the two organisations. While all Council of Europe Member States have ratified the Lanzarote Convention by 2021, the European Union has not yet signed this instrument. The EU has adopted its own legislation in line with the Council of Europe’s convention, and is currently strengthening it to better combat sexual abuse.
Ms Cathrin Bauer-Bulst, Head of Unit at the European Commission (DG HOME), said that the fight against child sexual abuse in all its forms is a key priority for the EU. The Union is committed to using all the resources at its disposal and working closely with all relevant stakeholders to combat and prevent this crime within the EU and globally. Ms Meglena Kuneva, Ambassador of the EU to the Council of Europe, added that co-leadership by the European Commission and the Council of Europe is a driving force in strengthening child rights in both organisations and their member states. The link is a recording of the public part of the event: https://vodmanager.coe.int/coe/webcast/coe/2022-04-22-1/en
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