EU Explanation of Vote – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Amendment on the resolution on the Strengthening the UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
We take this opportunity to thank Italy for the open and transparent manner in which it has conducted the negotiations on this long and complex resolution, maintaining its overall balance while at the same time significantly streamlining the text.
Our concerns with regard to the proposed amendment are related both to the process and the substance.
With regard to the process, we would like to highlight that language proposed in OP59 was presented at a very late stage of already highly complex negotiations. Neither of the two proposals – on OP59 and on OP60 – found consensual support in the room. Indeed we note that the amendment in OP59 was met with strong opposition from most delegations actively engaged in the negotiations.
We regret that an amendment has been submitted on a resolution that has been traditionally adopted by consensus and that strives to achieve a goal that unites us all, namely the goal of fighting transnational organised crime. This is particularly poignant in the year in which we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Palermo Convention.
With regard to the substance of the amendment, we wish to underline that the reference to “child pornography” proposed in OP59 would be a new addition in this resolution. It is worth noting that the phrase “child pornography” is increasingly considered obsolete and potentially harmful, and is therefore being replaced by the expression “child sexual abuse material” - language which was also proposed by the facilitator as a compromise.
The concept of “pornography” suggests a consensual practice among adults, which can and must not be associated with children. It diminishes the meaning of the criminal phenomenon at hand, namely the documented sexual abuse of a child for criminal purposes. In contrast, the reference to “child sexual abuse material” makes clear that: firstly, a child was harmed; secondly, the creation, distribution, and possession of the material are crimes; and thirdly, the material is evidence of exploitation, not a form of media or entertainment.
For these reasons, the Member States of the European Union will vote NO on the proposed amendment. We strongly encourage others to do the same.
Thank you.