As delivered

We are living in an increasingly digitised world. Developments in technology are fast-paced, dynamic, exciting, and challenging. Europe’s children are at the forefront of this digital era. Their lives, on- and offline, are entwined in fascinating ways. Access to the internet is increasingly recognised as a fundamental right.

This is why the Council of Europe’s new Strategy for the Rights of the Child recognises children’s rights in the digital environment as one of its five key pillars, and why it will be one of two top priorities for the recently set up Council of Europe ad hoc Committee for the Rights of the Child.

Children are also entitled to learn how to maximise their opportunities in the digital world. This is made clear by the 2016 Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers on the internet of citizens. It is why the Council of Europe has decided to produce a fully-revised edition of the Internet Literacy Handbook, complete with fact-sheets which can serve as lesson-plans, in classroom and other settings. Equal opportunities in accessing these technologies cannot be overlooked.

The Strategy for the Rights of the Child highlights the difficulties that children with disabilities, or from disadvantaged backgrounds, may face in accessing the digital world.

Of course, there are challenges. Many of these are well-known. Online, children can encounter abuse and exploitation, from peers and adults alike. Exposure to harmful material and violations of privacy are ever-present concerns.

It is the responsibility of all of us to meet these challenges in a manner which is strategic, co-operative, and which has a firm grounding in human rights. Perhaps most importantly, we need to recognise the role that children, and those around them, can, and indeed must, play.

We must also ensure that children know of the risks associated with the digital world, how they can avoid them, and where they can go if something goes wrong. These can be hard conversations to have, and must be approached in an age-sensitive, and rights-based manner. As you all know, the Council of Europe has produced numerous, child-friendly tools here, from the bed-time story and video-spot named “Kiko and the Hand”, which broaches the topic of sexual abuse, to an online internet-safety game, called “Through the Wild Web Woods”. An updated game will soon be launched, in the form of a tablet-application.

On the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (18 November)

One reason for the low report-rates of sexual abuse is the stigma which surrounds victims. This must be broken down, through talking about the phenomenon, and encouraging children to tell someone they trust. These are the aims of another video precisely called “Tell someone you Trust”, aimed at children aged between 9 and 13. This video was launched last year on the occasion of the first edition of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

Victims, or survivors as we often call them, were at the centre of this year’s second edition of the European Day, on 18 November. In fact, the Council of Europe hosted the first ever Global forum for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse which was organised by the very well-known NGO, ECPAT-International.

This was the occasion for these survivors to share, in an online discussion, their experience, raise questions and suggest actions.

Many other types of activities were also held all around Europe. All in all, we add a very successful second edition of the European Day a few days ago.

I know that you have actively contributed to the European Day. Several of you have recorded video statements in your own languages in order to reach more persons in your countries and raise awareness even more than usual. These videos were shared to as many people as possible via social media, which is, indeed, a very positive use of the digital environment. Please continue to do so.

Next year, the third edition of the European Day will also be a challenge. We are thinking of focusing on a specific theme, which could be on the challenges raised by the use of the Internet or other information and communication technologies. You will again be solicited to contribute. You may already think about it, be creative, outspoken. Our purpose is that every single European knows about the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, and that the Day will be used as an opportunity to continue to fight efficiently against this scourge.

Conclusion

For once, I will not mention the activities of the Lanzarote Committee since we have the pleasure to welcome its Chair, Mr Janizzi, who will address you later this morning. I know that the Lanzarote Committee feels more than concerned with the issue of sexual violence against children in the digital environment and it has already completed important work in this area, with even more to come.

Finally, since today is the last meeting of your network, let me congratulate you all for your excellent achievements and breakthroughs. It would take too long to list all the themes you have addressed and the actions undertaken. The minutes of your meetings show well the richness of your discussions and the depth of your commitment.

They are also an invaluable source of inspiration to many of those who work on protecting children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. I am confident that you will continue pushing for this topic to be high on the agendas of your national parliaments.

Thank you all.