Council of Europe

The newly set-up network of contact parliamentarians for the Council of Europe campaign “One in Five” to stop sexual violence against children hold its first meeting in Strasbourg on Wednesday 26 January at 2 pm (Room 5) during the January part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly.

At this meeting, the parliamentary dimension of this campaign was launched, and a new Handbook for parliamentarians was made available. This practical tool will help PACE members and their fellow parliamentarians to promote the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse with their governments, and raise the awareness of the general public for such crimes, which are still committed against too many children in our society.

Twenty-eight contact parliamentarians have been appointed by the end of January and will meet at least four times in 2011. Intensive exchanges of experience and best practice between parliaments are designed to help them overcome possible obstacles which might still prevail in their respective countries when it comes to reinforcing national legislation concerning sexual violence against children and to raising it up to the highest standards as provided by the Convention.

Handbook launching meeting (Strasbourg, 26 January 2011)

* Presentation by Ms Tanja Kleinsorge

* Some pictures