What is the goal and objective of the action?

The project aims to strengthen the prevention of and response to violence against children, including online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Azerbaijan. The project will support Azerbaijan in aligning its national legal and policy frameworks and practices with relevant international and European standards, including the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (Lanzarote Convention) and recommendations from the Lanzarote Committee. The support will be providedthrough legal and policy development, capacity building and awareness-raising activities.

The ongoing country-specific project builds on the outcomes of the Council of Europe regional project “End Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse @Europe” (EndOCSEA@Europe) (2018-2021), where Azerbaijan was one of the focus countries.

The project is implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Azerbaijan for 2022-2026.

 

 Funding:  428 000 EUR.

 Duration of the project: 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026

 Leaflet ENG and AZE

 

Who benefits from the action?

  • Law enforcement and criminal justice professionals
  • Staff of monitoring bodies
  • Professionals working for and with children
  • Civil Society
  • Children and families residing in Azerbaijan  

 

How does the action work?

Through a combination of tailored policy and legislative recommendations, capacity-building and awareness-raising activities.

 

What do we expect to achieve?

The project will work to contribute to achievement of the following outcomes:

  • The Governmental agencies have benefitted from substantive and procedural criminal law advice/support to identify victims, investigate cases and prosecute perpetrators of online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
  • Law enforcement and the judiciary professionals have increased qualifications and knowledge to run investigations on crimes against children on the Internet, according to Council of Europe standards on child sexual exploitation and abuse, rights of the child in the digital environment.
  • The Governmental agencies have enhanced knowledge and skills to effectively implement the national child protection programmes in line with European standards on child sexual exploitation and abuse, including online.
  • Professionals (teachers, social workers, doctors) working with and for children and parents have increased awareness regarding detection of child sexual abuse, including online, and reporting mechanisms.