webinar

Online child sexual exploitation and abuse in times of the COVID-19 pandemic

practical details

 Speakers

  • Virgil SPIRIDON, Head of Operations, Council of Europe Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC);
  • Ovidiu MĂJINĂ, Project Officer, Council of Europe C-PROC Office/Children’s Rights Division;
  • Cathal DELANEY, Europol, Team Leader of AP Twins (prevention and combating of all forms of criminality associated with the sexual exploitation and abuse of children);
  • İbrahim ÖZDEMİR, Inspector, Cybercrime Department, Turkish National Police;
  • Guillermo GALARZA, Director, International Law Enforcement Training & Technology International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children;

 Outline

 Language: English only

 Date and time

  • Thursday, 28 May 2020 | 11:00 AM GMT (13:00  - France)

 Duration 

  • 2h 

 Audience

  • Particularly useful for officials of national authorities and criminal justice sector (judiciary, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant entities) involved in preventing and countering online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
PRESENTATIONS
DETAILS

Background

The Covid-19 pandemic impacts individuals and societies and therefore many areas rely more than ever on the technology. Criminals also see the opportunity to adapt to the changes that occur in society and in relation to their potential victims and, as the pandemic didn’t disappear overnight, they also shifted their criminal activities to the online world.

Children are also vulnerable to the increasing online threats being more present on the Internet given that also school classes are conducted remotely.

According to Europol’s Director, Catherine De Bolle, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation detected increased online activity by "those seeking child sexual abuse material" in these times of coronavirus pandemic.

 

Objectives

The webinar aims at presenting the international legal standards and related support regarding operational cooperation and capacity building provided by international organizations to criminal justice authorities to properly address challenges on OCSEA.

It may also serve as an awareness raising session and an alarm signal in relation to the online dangers that lurk and might affect children worldwide.

During the webinar participants are encouraged to share best practices and experiences on tackling OCSEA cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expected outcomes

  • Increase knowledge on the current threats of Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in the context of COVID-19;
  • Acquainted with the capacities required for criminal justice authorities to properly respond to this phenomenon;
  • Lear more about the international tools available on operational cooperation and Law Enforcement training programs.

Resources