“A large number of minors are lost in the wild after their arrival in Europe, running the risk of exploitation, sexual abuse and trafficking,” alerted Johan van den Hout (Netherlands, SOC), Congress Spokesperson on Children addressing the 18th meeting of the Lanzarote Committee, on 12 May 2017. He presented the work of the Congress against child abuse, the promotion of the Pact of Towns and Regions to Stop Sexual Violence against Children, the adoption of an Action Plan and the production of a toolkit in 37 languages. “Local and regional authorities, as public authorities closest to its citizens, are at the frontline of the fight against sexual crimes and exploitation committed inside their own communities” he underlined. “Since 2015 we have been organising a biennial seminar for national associations of local and regional authorities to explore how the local government associations can cooperate,” he added. The second Seminar will take place in Belgrade on 13 June 2017 and will focus on the specific situation of refugee children and minors. The Congress is also preparing a report entitled “Refugee children and minors in Europe: What role and responsibilities for local authorities?” which will be discussed by the Current Affairs Committee in October 2017.
Statement by Johan van den Hout
Congress Pact of Towns and Regions to Stop Sexual Violence against Children
Lanzarote Convention