On 13 October 2026, Maria José Castello-Branco, Chairperson of the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Committee), delivered opening remarks at the 48th ordinary session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). This marked the Council of Europe’s first participation in an ACERWC meeting.
In her remarks, she highlighted the Lanzarote Convention as a holistic legally binding international treaty on the protection of children against sexual violence, which is open to accession by states worldwide.
Recalling her first meeting with ACERWC Chairperson, Hon. Sabrina Gahar, on the margins of the North–South Prize side event in May 2026, where they discussed strengthening co-operation between the two committees, Castello-Branco noted: “We left with a shared sense of purpose. We hope we are at the beginning of a fruitful partnership – one that connects experience and expertise across Europe and Africa to better protect children’s rights on both our continents.”
Ahead of the ACERWC’s Day of General Discussion on “Violence Against Children and Harmful Practices: Navigating the Digital Frontier”, the Chairpersons of the Lanzarote Committee and the ACERWC expressed a shared concern about the risks children face online and stressed the need to work together to address them. “The digital world is now part of the childhood of millions of African children”, Hon. Sabrina Gahar said. While it offers opportunities for learning, expression and participation, it can also expose children to sexual exploitation and abuse, cyberbullying and other harms, including those linked to artificial intelligence.
With a view to strengthening this co-operation, the Council of Europe and the ACERWC held a side event “The protection of children against sexual violence: a North–South dialogue”. The keynote speakers were the Chairpersons of the Lanzarote Committee and the ACERWC; Dr Satang Nabaneh, ACERWC Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Children; and Morenikejimi Olaniran, representative of the Global Survivor Council.
The discussion explored how the Lanzarote Convention and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child can reinforce one another and how to adapt or strengthen child-friendly, multidisciplinary and interagency services, such as Barnahus, including across African countries. Speakers also discussed how the insights of people with lived experience can inform policies and practice to better protect children from sexual violence and uphold their rights.
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