The End Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse@Europe Plus (EndOCSEA@Europe+) Project's Steering Committee held its first online meeting on 5 December 2023. The Steering Committee will provide strategic advice support and guidance during the entire implementation of the project to prevent and combat Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) in line with the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) and the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention).

The representatives of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Ministry of Justice of Montenegro and Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova provided the Council of Europe Childrens’ Rights Division with an insightful overview and shared the relevant cross-sectorial challenges pertaining to their countries’ efforts to safeguard children from OCSEA.

Following the discussion on the current situation, the Council of Europe Lanzarote Committee Secretariat presented to participants its findings on Georgia, Montenegro and the Republic of Moldova. The Lanzarote Committee underlined the key recommendations in respect of judicial and non-judicial measures, including the establishment of capacity building initiatives and constructive cooperation with civil society actors.

Considering the complexity of the OCSEA topic and in view of EndOCSEA@Europe+'s goals, the Steering Committee acknowledged the importance of establishing a National Advisory Boards in each focus country to involve a wide range of stakeholders, such as Ministries of Social Policies and Education, among others.

Following the discussion, the Steering Committee officially endorsed the workplan of the project.