Ireland has become the 48th country to ratify a landmark Council of Europe convention that requires criminalisation of sexual offences against children. Irish Ambassador Breifne O'Reilly transmitted to Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić the instrument of ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and abuse (STCE 201), also known as the Lanzarote Convention.
The treaty sets out that states in Europe and beyond shall adopt specific legislation and take measures to prevent sexual violence, to protect child victims and to prosecute perpetrators. The “Lanzarote Committee” monitors whether states party to the convention effectively carry it out. It also identifies good practices during capacity-building activities such as study visits and conferences. Although the ratification has been filed today, the treaty enters into force in Ireland as of April 1, 2021.
