Learning from victims/survivors of childhood sexual violence to inspire policy change

Each year, the Council of Europe invites its partners to focus on a specific topic on the occasion of the European Day.

The 2023 edition of the European Day focuses on “Learning from victims/survivors of childhood sexual violence to inspire policy change”.

This will be an opportunity to highlight the importance of engaging with victims/survivors at national and local level, to learn from them and their traumatic experiences, to understand what could have been done better to react, report and to support them. 

The Council of Europe partners with a wide audience to mark the European Day including member states, civil society organisations and national parliaments. This webpage provides access to the various initiatives organised by these partners (displayed below under Activities) allowing all to share their products to generate good practices.

Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse affects children everywhere. The majority of abuse happens in the child’s circle of trust. In many cases it is never reported to the police. According to victims/survivors, common barriers to disclosure or reporting abuse are feelings of shame and stigma. As a result, they are unable to access help or support to heal from this trauma. This also means that perpetrators go unpunished which can lead to further abuse of the same or other children.

Giving victims/survivors a voice can inspire change. This year is an opportunity to raise awareness at all levels of society in order to prevent and eliminate stigmatisation. It is crucial to learn from victims'/survivors’ experiences to improve legislation, policy and services to better prevent these crimes and protect child victims/survivors.

We want to learn more about the ways victims/survivors are already bringing about change whether at local, national or regional level. In this context we are conducting research to learn more about the various ways victims/survivors are inspiring change. 

In relation to the thematic focus of the European Day, a paper on the Council of Europe's engagement with victims and survivors, the different forms of engagement in different States and how to better engage with victims and survivors has been published.

Share your activities and initiatives!

Please inform us if you organise an event by completing an online form. Your activities or initiatives will be promoted.

MATÉRIELS

 Our awareness-raising and communication tools and resources

Since 2015, the Council of Europe has developed many different awareness-raising and communication tools and resources:

• For children
• For parents
• For authorities and parliaments
• For professionals working for and with children
• Infographics / Banner / Header / Panels

​ACTIVITIES FOR THE EUROPEAN DAY 

  In Council of Europe member states

Joint statement issued by six Council of Europe member States (Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, San Marino and Slovenia) and supported by 37 other Council of Europe member States as well as by the European Union

    ALBANIA

CRCA/ECPAT Albania 

In close cooperation with national ministries, the CRCA/ECPAT Albania held several events on 20 November in the framework of the European Day (18 November). 

•    The Minister of Interior, Minister of Education, Minister of Health and Social Protection, Minister of State for Youth and Children, as well as representatives of CRCA /ECPAT Albania and ALO 116-111, met to sign a NATIONAL PACT Against Child Sexual Violence and Exploitation online and offline. The Pact is open for signature by all institutions, organisations or businesses that aim to ensure better protection of children.

•    The “Largest Lesson in Albania: I have a right to be protected” was held at the same time in every classroom in every school across the country to raise awareness on the right of children to be protected from violence and reporting mechanisms. 

•    The 3rd Blue-Ribbon March dedicated to fight against any form of violence against children took place. This year's slogan was: Protect my childhood! This day is dedicated to all children who suffer from violence and are afraid to report it!

     ANDORRA

Government of Andorra

To mark the European Day, the Government of Andorra organised a conference and training session for 90 professionals working with children and adolescents in different sectors such as education, health, law enforcement and social services. The conference took place on 20 November and was open to the public.

   FRANCE 

Mouv’Enfants and survivors and victims living in the Bas-Rhin

A stakeholder debate on combatting sexual violence against children was organised collectively by the association Mouv’Enfants and survivors and victims living in the Bas-Rhin on 20 October. The event was hosted by the Council of Europe and brought together local specialists, including lawyers, social workers, police officers, early childhood and child protection professionals, victims and survivors, and the City of Strasbourg.

     GEORGIA

International Conference “A Child-friendly Justice System and Child Rights, The Best European and American Experience”

The international Conference “A Child-friendly Justice System and Child Rights, The Best European and American Experience” took place on 20 November 2023 in Tbilissi, Georgia. The conference was organised  as part of the Council of Europe project “Ensuring child-friendly justice in Georgia: preventing and protecting children from violence, including in the digital environment” on the occasion of the European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse and the World Children’s Day.

    ITALY 

Telefono Azzurro and Italian Embassy to the Holy See 

Telefono Azzurro and the Italian Embassy to the Holy See held a discussion on the occasion of the European and World Day for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children and Adolescents. The discussion took place on 17 November and focused on “Listening to child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse to develop effective help and protection interventions”. 

     LUXEMBOURG 

Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth

•    In the context of the European Day (18 November), the Children's Rights Department of the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth, in partnership with Alupse and the Central Victim Support Service, published the testimonies of victims and survivors, to raise awareness at national level on the issue of childhood sexual violence. Four strong messages emerge from the testimonies collected: "Raise awareness in society"; "Focus on prevention"; "Be vigilant"; "Listen to and believe children who disclose violence".

For more information, please see: 18 novembre : Journée européenne pour la protection des enfants contre l’exploitation et les abus sexuels - Actualités - Education nationale, Enfance et Jeunesse - Luxembourg (public.lu) (available in French only)

•    To raise public awareness of the new provisions of the law of 7 August 2023 on the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of minors, the Ministry of Justice has developed educational material and an animation for social networks, which were distributed from 17 November onwards to mark the European Day.

For more information, please see: Sexual abuse and exploitation - Ministry of Justice / The Luxembourg Government (gouvernement.lu)

•    The Department for the Coordination of Research on Educational and Technological Innovation of the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth, launched the prevention project "I am the boss of my body", aimed at strengthening children's capacities against physical, psychological and sexual violence. The project consists of a workshop, an educational pack containing 24 activities for two age groups (7-9 and 9-11) and a book with the story "Who is boss?" for 9-10 year-olds.

For more information, please see: Chmenki | Heydoo - clever léieren (available in German, French, and Luxembourgish)

      POLAND 

State Commission

The State Commission for the prevention of sexual abuse of minors under the age of 15 years in cooperation with the Medical University of Lublin organised a discussion on the role of medical personnel in the recognition and response to sexual violence against children. The event was held on 18 November and was attended by 80 professionals, including specialists in gynaecology, child psychiatry and dentistry, as well as nurses, emergency medical staff and psychologists. The aim of the discussion was to provide health professionals with information on the signs of sexual abuse, the legal aspect the crime of sexual abuse, and the rules for reporting suspicion of sexual violence against a child to law enforcement authorities. The discussion was broadcasted online.

      PORTUGAL 

National Commission for the Promotion of Rights and the Protection of Children and Young People

The National Commission for the Promotion of Rights and the Protection of Children and Young People supported the European Day by disseminating information on the 2023 Edition on learning from victims/survivors of childhood sexual violence to inspire policy change. They disseminated the campaign with the local Commissions for the Protection of Children and Young People by e-mail and a wider dissemination took place through the National Commission’s website and social accounts.

For more information, please see: Website, Facebook, and Instagram.

   SPAIN

Conference: “Strategies for addressing sexual violence against children and adolescents”

The conference: “Strategies for addressing sexual violence against children and adolescents” was held at the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas on 13 November to commemorate the European day on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. 

The hybrid conference, which gathered over 200 participants, was organised by fapmi-ECPAT Spain, in collaboration with the Chair for the Rights of the Child of the University of Comillas and the Council of Europe and with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.

       UNITED KINGDOM 

Safer Young Lives Research Centre, University of Bedfordshire

Safer Young Lives Research Centre, University of Bedfordshire held an online event on 17 November: Engaging young survivors in participatory initiatives: What are we learning?

Presentations included key findings and outputs from an international research study exploring potential outcomes related to the participation of young survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including a series of practitioner briefings and a comic book designed to help young people and professionals understand each other's views about young survivors’ participation in efforts to address child sexual abuse and exploitation.​

 Council of Europe 

SECRETARY GENERAL

Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe