The Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Prevention of Violence (ENF-VAE) held its first meeting on 16 to 17 May 2023 to kick off its work. During the meeting, the experts elected the Chair (Mária Vargová, Slovakia) and the Vice-Chair (Alina Seel, Austria) of the Committee and adopted its work plan. The Committee heard presentations from external experts for its immediate task, which concerns the drafting of a feasibility study on age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education to strengthen responses for inter alia preventing and combating violence against children, including risky or harmful sexual behavior by children and held an exchange on the key areas and main challenges in law, policy and practice on this topic, particularly through the provision of such education. The experts also exchanged views on how to consult relevant stakeholders and professionals, and in particular children. The next meeting of the Committee will take place in Strasbourg, from 11 to 12 October 2023.
 

 Meeting report