In 2019, the Council of Europe project to “End Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse @ Europe” (EndOCSEA@Europe) selected four civil society organisations: the Child Rights Centre Serbia (CRC), the National Centre for Child Abuse Prevention (NCCAP) of the Republic of Moldova, the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro, and the All Ukrainian Women’s Consortium, to support their projects to raise awareness for preventing and combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse. The selection criteria included projects with a strong focus on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual abuse and sexual exploitation (Lanzarote Convention), the inclusion of child participation and activities with sustainable impact. The overall maximum amount awarded was 50.000EUR.
The four grantees successfully organised a wide range of conferences, media events and workshops with the involvement of children and developed and shared awareness-raising materials and reports on the prevention and prosecution of OCSEA at national level.
For example, the conference “Children’s rights in Serbia – Where we are and where we want to go”, was organised on 20 November 2019 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The Child Rights Centre Serbia (CRC) also organised four workshops with vulnerable and marginalised children in Serbia living in alternative care and juvenile justice institutions. The National Centre for Child Abuse Prevention (NCCAP) of the Republic of Moldova organised an exhibition at the Parliament about online safety and the prevention of online sexual abuse, which took place during the European Day for the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (18 November), as well as two consultation workshops with youth advocates to produce messages and scenarios for a photo exhibit on OCSEA. In Montenegro, 48 creative educational workshops with children were held in 30 primary schools and in 4 institutions for children in alternative care.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020 some of the activities had to be carried out remotely and awareness-raising activities were launched to address potentially increasing risks of OCSEA-related offences during the confinement period.
Successful results of the work carried out by the EndOCSEA grantees also include:
- a social media campaign on OCSEA threats, with a virtual application designed to strengthen the implementation of the Lanzarote Convention in Serbia (the Child Rights Centre Serbia (CRC)).
- a photo exhibition of 20 thematic images with an explanation of OCSEA threats and guidance for children and parents, developed with the participation of 3 young survivors of sexual violence. The exhibition was shown in 13 locations (the National Centre for Child Abuse Prevention, NCCAP, Republic of Moldova).
-a brochure titled “No one is allowed to touch you” prepared in consultation with 25 children aged 11 to 16 years old. The brochure provides child-friendly information on illicit behaviours towards children in the online environment, as well as prevention resources at national level (the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro).
Activities of the Women’s Consortium of Ukraine include a social media campaign developed with child participation to raise awareness about cybercrime and sexual abuse and exploitation in Ukraine, along with awareness raising among policy makers through an online survey and roundtable.
Acknowledgements:
The Council of Europe gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided for this programme by the Fund to End Violence Against Children.
Social media campaign on Facebook (Child Rights Centre Serbia)
Virtual application (Child Rights Centre Serbia)
Conference “Children’s rights in Serbia – Where we are and where we want to go” (Child Rights Centre Serbia)
Photo Exhibit (The National Centre for Child Abuse Prevention (NCCAP), Republic of Moldova)
Brochure “No one is allowed to touch you” (Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro)