The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, also known as the Lanzarote Convention, requires criminalization of all forms of sexual offences against children. The Convention is based on the four Ps: prevention of violence, the protection of child victims, the prosecution of offenders and the participation of children themselves. All 46 Member States of the Council of Europe have signed it and ratified it. The Russian Federation has also signed and ratified the Convention; Tunisia acceded to it and thus became the first non-European State Party.

For more information on how to join the Convention, please consult our leaflet available in English, French and Spanish.

Albania

Signed: 17/12/2008
Ratified: 14/04/2009
Entry into Force: 01/07/2010


Andorra

Signed: 29/06/2012
Ratified: 30/04/2014
Entry into Force: 01/08/2014


Armenia

Signed: 29/09/2010
Ratified: 07/09/2020
Entry into Force: 01/01/2021


Austria

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 25/02/2011
Entry into Force: 01/06/2011


Azerbaijan

Signed: 17/11/2008
Ratified: 19/12/2019
Entry into Force:  01/04/2020


Belgium

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 08/03/2013
Entry into Force: 01/07/2013


Bosnia and Herzegovina

Signed: 12/10/2011
Ratified: 14/11/2012
Entry into Force: 01/03/2013


Bulgaria

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 15/12/2011
Entry into Force: 01/04/2012


Croatia

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified:  21/09/2011
Entry into Force: 01/01/2012


Cyprus

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 12/02/2015
Entry into Force: 01/06/2015


Czech Republic

Signed: 17/07/2014
Ratified: 02/05/2016
Entry into force: 01/09/2016


Denmark

Signed: 20/12/2007
Ratified: 18/11/2009
Entry into Force: 01/07/2010


Estonia

Signed: 17/09/2008
Ratified: 22/11/2016
Entry into Force: 01/03/2017


Finland

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 09/06/2011
Entry into Force: 01/10/2011


France

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 27/09/2010
Entry into Force: 01/01/2011


Georgia

Signed: 12/03/2009
Ratified: 23/09/2014
Entry into Force: 01/01/2015


Germany

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 18/11/2015
Entry into Force: 01/03/2016


Greece

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 10/03/2009
Entry into Force: 01/07/2010


Hungary

Signed: 29/11/2010
Ratified: 03/08/2015
Entry into Force: 01/12/2015


Iceland

Signed: 04/02/2008
Ratified: 20/09/2012
Entry into Force: 01/01/2013


Ireland

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 21/12/2020
Entry into Force: 01/04/2021


Italy

Signed: 07/11/2007
Ratified: 03/01/2013
Entry into Force: 01/05/2013


Latvia

Signed: 07/03/2013
Ratified: 18/08/2014
Entry into Force: 01/12/2014


Liechtenstein

Signed: 17/11/2008
Ratified: 11/09/2015
Entry into Force: 01/01/2016

Lithuania

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 09/04/2013
Entry into Force: 01/08/2013


Luxembourg

Signed: 07/07/2009
Ratified: 09/09/2011
Entry into Force: 01/01/2012


Malta

Signed: 06/09/2010
Ratified: 06/09/2010
Entry into Force: 01/01/2011


Republic of Moldova

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 12/03/2012
Entry into Force: 01/07/2012


Monaco

Signed: 22/10/2008
Ratified: 07/10/2014
Entry into Force: 01/02/2015


Montenegro

Signed: 18/06/2009
Ratified: 25/11/2010
Entry into Force: 01/03/2011


Netherlands

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 01/03/2010
Entry into Force: 01/07/2010


North Macedonia

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 11/06/2012
Entry into Force: 01/10/2012


Norway

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 13/06/2018
Entry into Force: 01/10/2018


Poland

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 20/02/2015
Entry into Force: 01/06/2015


Portugal

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 23/08/2012
Entry into Force: 01/12/2012


Romania

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 17/05/2011
Entry into Force: 01/09/2011


Russian Federation

Signed: 01/10/2012
Ratified: 09/08/2013
Entry into Force: 01/12/2013


San Marino

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 22/03/2010
Entry into Force: 01/07/2010


Serbia

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 29/07/2010
Entry into Force: 01/11/2010


Slovakia

Signed: 09/09/2009
Ratified: 01/03/2016
Entry into Force: 01/07/2016


Slovenia

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 26/09/2013
Entry into Force: 01/01/2014


Spain

Signed: 12/03/2009
Ratified: 05/08/2010
Entry into Force: 01/12/2010


Sweden

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 28/06/2013
Entry into Force: 01/10/2013


Switzerland

Signed: 16/06/2010
Ratified: 18/03/2014
Entry into Force: 01/07/2014


 Tunisia

Acceded: 15/10/2019
Entry into Force: 01/02/2020


Türkiye

Signed: 25/10/2007
Ratified: 07/12/2011
Entry into Force: 01/04/2012


Ukraine

Signed: 14/11/2007
Ratified: 27/08/2012
Entry into Force: 01/12/2012


United Kingdom

Signed: 05/05/2008
Ratified: 20/06/2018
Entry into Force: 01/10/2018