The 12th edition of the European Forum on Bioethics focuses on children’s ethical and societal issues related to bioethics.

The forum ran from 31 January to 5 February 2022 with several workshops on a number of important issues such as: children’s rights, sex and sexuality education, incest, harassment, gender identity, vulnerable children, vaccination, etc.

The Secretary of the Council of Europe Committee of the Parties to the Lanzarote Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Committee), Mr Mikaël Poutiers, was among the speakers of the workshop discussing taboos around the incest (“Le tabou de l’inceste est-il tombé ? parlons-en !”) which took place on 5 February 2022.  He presented Council of Europe’s standards and work of the Lanzarote Committee focusing on the findings, recommendations and promising practices of 1st Monitoring Round: "Protection of Children against Sexual Abuse in the Circle of Trust" that dealt inter alia with issues of incest. Furthermore, the activities that marked the 2021 Edition of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse: "Making the circle of trust truly safe for children" were also presented.

On 4 February 2022, Eleni Tsetsekou, Head of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Unit, also took part in the workshop Coming Out! which explored how the coming out is experienced today. The intervention highlighted that LGBTI children and young people still face stigma, discrimination and violence because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation and that the lack of inclusiveness of school curricula continue to pose serious challenges.

The Forum was live streamed and video recordings of each workshop are available on the dedicated website.

 Programme