UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

52^d session

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children

16 March 2023

EU Intervention

Mr. President,

The EU would like to thank the Special Representative for her work and welcome the presentation of her report..

The protection of children from violence, including in the digital environment, is a critical issue, and we thank the SRSG for the recommendations contained in her report.

Special Representative,

Your report outlines the diverse forms of violence to which children are exposed online, emphasizes their co-occurrence in that setting, and focuses on the continuum between violence online and offline and on the interlinkages between gender-based violence and violence against children. These findings are particularly sobering.

The EU Strategy on the rights of the child includes actions to combat violence against children and address children’s mental health. Among other things, these actions aim to prevent cyberbullying, to facilitate the exchange of best practices in mental health, and to promote integrated child protection systems that put children at the centre. Ensuring a victim- and survivor-centred approach is a key concern.

In order to prevent child abuse, provide effective remedies and ensure access to child-friendly justice, the EU is taking action to put in place a legal obligation for digital companies to detect,report and remove child sexual abuse material from their networks.

Special Representative, at what level do you believe that your recommendations would be best operationalized?

Thank you