End Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse @ Europe (EndOCSEA@Europe)

The EndOCSEA@Europe project is implemented by the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Cybercrime Office (C-PROC) in Bucharest, Romania.

Objectives

The ever increasing use of information and communication technologies whilst providing additional opportunities for children to exercise their rights also exposes them to greater risks of sexual exploitation and abuse facilitated by online technologies. Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) is a crime that has far reaching, long-term consequences for the victims, survivors and the wider community. Preventing and combatting this crime is a complex challenge that requires constant action by every member state of the Council of Europe.

To support member states to prevent and combat OCSEA, the Council of Europe has launched a new project “End Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse @ Europe” (EndOCSEA@Europe). This project seeks to address the contextual challenges identified at pan-European and country levels by promoting, facilitating and supporting national efforts and actions to prevent and combat OCSEA. This project will support global efforts in this area, including actions towards SDG 16.2 and SDG 5.2 as well as the implementation of relevant international and European standards, in particular the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention), and 8 of the capabilities identified in the WePROTECT Model National Response.

Newsroom on EndOCSEA@Europe project

Back Strengthening civil society participation in implementing and monitoring the Lanzarote Convention

Photo: Zev Hoover

Engaging civil society is crucial in preventing and combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.

To further strengthen cooperation, the Council of Europe organised an International Conference dedicated to civil society on 8-9 April 2019 in Strasbourg. This international conference gathered over 40 participants and aimed to build capacities to strengthen the prevention and protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse by:

familiarising participants with the Council of Europe child rights strategic agenda and work, including the Lanzarote Convention and its monitoring process;
discussing strategies and ways civil society actors can strengthen the implementation of the Lanzarote Convention at local and national level and develop or deepen their engagement with the Lanzarote Committee; and
providing the opportunity to share experiences, promising practices and lessons learnt with peers at pan European level.

Acknowledgements:

The Council of Europe gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided for this programme by the Fund to End Violence Against Children.

Agenda