“The fundamental rights of far too many children are being violated across our Continent, on a daily basis. In the light of this reality, Estonia, currently chairing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, has placed the protection of children’s rights at the heart of its agenda over the last 6 months.
18 November marks the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. This day was set up by the Committee of Ministers on 12 May 2015, as a tool to raise awareness of these terrible crimes, which are a very serious violation of children’s rights. This is also a topic that many people find difficult to speak about. The European Day therefore also provides an opportunity for these subjects to be discussed openly, thus also helping to eliminate the stigmatisation of victims.
For the Committee of Ministers, this Day it is also an opportunity to promote the Lanzarote Convention. This legally binding instrument obliges States to criminalise all forms of sexual abuse of children through enacting specific legislation and also requires them to take measures to prevent sexual violence, to protect child victims and to prosecute perpetrators. Estonia has recently ratified the Convention and would encourage other member States, who have not already done so, to consider doing the same.
The Estonian Chairmanship welcomes the many initiatives and activities that are already being organised in the framework of this European Day. We would encourage all those who have contact with children – be it teachers, parents, sport coaches, NGOs or local, regional and national authorities - to continue to raise awareness and stop the terrible violence to which some of our children are still subjected.”
