On 12 March 2024, the Council of Europe and the Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations in Geneva hosted an event “Join states in a class of excellence to fight child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse” on the margins of the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. The event aimed at promoting the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the Lanzarote Convention) as the most comprehensive international instrument on protecting children from this crime.
“Sexual violence against children is a crime that’s destroying millions of lives worldwide. We need to act now, for and with children” – stated Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children at the opening of the event.
The Lanzarote Convention serves as a blueprint for states to strengthen legislation and policies to better prevent sexual exploitation and abuse of children, protect victims, prosecute offenders, and promote national and international co-operation. Being part of the Lanzarote Convention also allows states to benefit from the unique mechanism of monitoring and capacity building through the Lanzarote Committee.
Regína Jensdóttir, Council of Europe Co-ordinator for the Rights of the Child recalled that “the Lanzarote Convention may have been made in Europe, but it is an international treaty with global aims, and it is open for accession and ratification by any country in the world.” Currently 48 countries, from Europe and beyond, are parties to the Convention.
In his address, H.E. Ásmundur Einar Daðason, Minister of Education and Children of Iceland underlined that “joining the Lanzarote Convention was not a political gesture for Iceland; it was a solemn pledge to protect our most vulnerable. Reflecting on the journey since signing the convention, we have seen tangible progress: strengthened legislation, innovative policies, and initiatives all around Europe. I would like to encourage more states to join this noble cause, in creating a united front in the battle against child sexual exploitation and abuse, guided by a shared commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of every child.”
The Iceland-inspired Barnahus (Children’s House) model, promoted by the Council of Europe as an example of promising practice for multidisciplinary and interagency co-operation to respond to child sexual violence, was also presented at the event. Mag. Nina Koželj, Director General of the Punitive Law and Human Rights Directorate of the Ministry of Justice of Slovenia, thanked the Council of Europe for the support provided through a co-operation project to set up a Barnahus in Slovenia: “It is crucial to ensure children's protection during judicial proceedings, minimising re-traumatisation and secondary victimisation while significantly shortening the pre-trial process. I take pride in the Council of Europe's support for several projects in this domain, thereby strenghtening excellence in child-friendly justice.”
Event website with resources on the Lanzarote Convention and the Barnahus model
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