“Tell someone you trust” www.coe.int/EndChildSexAbuseDay
18 November is the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Ukraine marks this day together with other European countries. It is estimated that every 9 minutes a webpage shows a child being sexually abused and about 1 in 5 children in Europe are victims of some form of sexual violence with 70-85% of cases the abuser is somebody the child knows.
The Council of Europe, the President’s Representative for Children, the NGOs La Strada, Magnolia, Child Well-being Fund Ukraine, Kyiv School of Equal Opportunities, National Children’s Council and Olvia call for joint action and effective measures of authorities, civil society, international and specialised organisations to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse in Ukraine.
The Council of Europe Convention for the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, also known as the “Lanzarote Convention”, is to date the most ambitious and comprehensive international legal instrument on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. Ukraine is party to the Lanzarote Convention since 2012 and under the obligation to establish specific legislation criminalising such behaviour and take measures to prevent sexual violence as well as protect child victims and prosecute perpetrators.
To mark the European Day and raise awareness on the incidence and consequences of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Ukraine, the Council of Europe supports the joint “Tell someone you trust” campaign of six civil society organisations:
- NGO “La Strada” targets parliamentarians and journalists through press events on 17 November at Verkhovna Rada and Media Crisis Centre and the general public through internet and media flashmobs to take action to ensure the Government of Ukraine fulfil its commitments under the Lanzarote Convention.
- All Ukrainian NGO “Magnolia” broadcasts live TV programme “Without Taboo” on "ChP.INFO" (ЧП.INFO) TV channel and hosts interactive video blogs.
- All-Ukrainian Charity "Child Well-being Fund Ukraine" trains and sensitises up to 414 professionals working with children and parents through webinars and distribution of education materials.
- NGO “Kyiv School of Equal Opportunities” organises interactive and participative activities for 800 children aged between 8-16 years from 24 regions of Ukraine at the Artek camp in Kyiv on 17-18 November on the subject of “safe behaviour in the Internet”.
- Public Association “National Children’s Council” raises awareness on the incidence of violence against children in alternative care institutions through activities training children and young people living in these institutions on their rights and targeting their mentors on identifying and reporting suspected cases of violence.
- Pervomaisk Youth Women's Information and Coordination Centre "Olvia” organises a regional campaign targeting local authorities, professionals and the general public in Pervomaisk region through round table events, flasmobs, banners and broadcasting of cartoons.
Photos