Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse affect children in every country across the world, in the vast majority of cases the child is abused by someone they know and trust. Until now 48 countries have joined forces to better prevent and protect children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse under the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention).* The Lanzarote Committee monitors the implementation of these commitments by State Parties, and makes recommendations to help States strengthen legislation, policies and practices.
On 20 June 2023, the Lanzarote Committee launched a new thematic monitoring round on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in the circle of trust. State Parties had to respond to the thematic questionnaire on legal frameworks by 10 October 2023 (extended deadline). The responses received from State Parties are available on the Committee’s website.
Civil society and any other organisations working to prevent and protect children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse can also contribute to the monitoring work of the Committee by commenting on State replies or submitting additional information. Information submitted by National human Rights Institutions and Civil Society Organisations should be received by the Secretariat (lanzarote.committee@coe.int) by 2 January 2024 (deadline extended in view of the late submission of responses by some State Parties).
The Lanzarote Committee also encourages children to participate in its work as far as possible and has developed guidelines for facilitators to implement child consultations in the context of the current monitoring round. Contributions from child consultations should be received by the Secretariat (lanzarote.committee@coe.int) by 29 March 2024.
Further information on the timeline of the monitoring cycle is available in the List of decisions and report of the 39th Lanzarote Committee meeting.
* The Lanzarote Convention is open to accession by any country in the world.
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