LAUNCH ON NEW EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Support A1+!25 October, Lanzarote – A new Council of Europe convention aimed at protecting children against sexual abuse and exploitation will be opened for signature at a conference of European justice ministers on Thursday. The convention contains measures to combat sexual abuse in the home and in the family, as well as child prostitution, pornography, “grooming” for sexual purposes and sex tourism.
Statistics indicate that in western democracies approximately one in ten children or young adults is the victim of some form of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse against children occurs in various forms: incest, pornography, prostitution, human trade and sexual aggression. All of these carry very serious physical and psychological consequences upon children.
In July 2007, the Council of Europe adopted the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. This instrument is the first to establish the various forms of sexual abuse of children as criminal offences, including such abuse committed in the home or the family. The convention fills the gaps in European legislation and harmonises the legal framework to fight against this plague.
The program ''Building a Europe For and With Children'' completes this legal approach. Its objective is the promotion of children's rights and their protection against all forms of violence.
