Council of Europe

Handbook for parliamentarians

The handbook for parliamentarians is a practical tool to help parliamentarians better understand and promote the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention).

The Lanzarote Convention contains all the measures needed to prevent sexual violence, to protect children and to prosecute the abusers. The convention is open to the 47 member states of the Council of Europe as well as to non-member states.

The handbook highlights the sensitive issues which need to be tackled through national legislation.

How to get the handbook?

Download the pdf-version of the handbook in English, French, German, Romanian and Spanish.

Download a Power Point presentation of the handbook in English here.

For a printed version (available in English and French), please contact the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly.

The compendium of activities and good practices 2011

The Parliamentary Assembly published a compendium of activities and good practices implemented by the PACE and by the network of contact parliamentarians involved in the Council of Europe ONE in FIVE Campaign to stop sexual violence against children.

Download a PDF version of the compendium here.

Reference texts

• Child abuse in institutions: ensuring full protection of the victims  Recommendation 1934 (2010)

• Ending sexual violence against children Written declaration 460 signed by 96 members of the Assembly (2010)

• Reinforcing measures against sex offenders Resolution 1733 (2010).

• Combating “child abuse images” through committed, transversal and internationally co-ordinated action  
  
  Minutes of the hearing on Combating "child pornography"
  
  Resolution 1834 (2011)
  
  Recommendation 1980 (2011)

• What can Europe do for children in the aftermath of natural disasters and crisis situations: the example of Haiti (rapporteur: Ms Hostalier, France, EPP/CD). Minutes of the hearing "What Europe can do for children in the afermath of natural disasters and crisis situations: the example of Haiti"
  
  Resolution 1850 (2011)

Upcoming reports

• Fighting "child sex tourism" through committed legal and political action

• Intercountry adoption: ensuring that the best interests of the child are upheld – Rapporteur: Ms Marlene Rupprecht (Germany, SOC)