Local and regional authorities have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the safety and welfare of children and young people, working together with partners such as the third sector, public organisations and the private sector.  To meet this challenge, the Congress aims to raise Europe’s towns and regions awareness of the issue, to develop and implement community-based action plans and strategies, and to invest in better services.

The Congress has devised a Pact of Towns and Regions to Stop Sexual Violence against Children which proposes measures and strategies to prevent abuse, protect victims, prosecute perpetrators, and ensure the full participation of children in the entire process. 

The Pact of Towns and Regions to Stop Sexual Violence against Children is a tool, launched at the initiative of Council of Europe Congress, that brings together the towns, regions and associations of towns and regions of many countries of Europe. The Pact proposes measures to prevent abuse, protect victims, prosecute perpetrators and ensure the full participation of children in the process as a whole.

Pact of Town of Regions website

Council of Europe Convention

• Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention)

Council of Europe Strategy

• Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027)

Congress pact to stop sexual violence against children

• Seminar on the pact of towns and regions to stop sexual violence against children (13 June 2017, Belgrade, Serbia)
  • Conclusions  
• Seminar on the pact of towns and regions to stop sexual violence against children (30 June 2015, Hertogenbosch, Netherlands)
  • Conclusions
• Towns and regions: a pact to stop sexual violence against children - A contribution of the Congress to the Council of Europe ONE in FIVE campaign
  • Pact to stop sexual violence against children
• The local and regional dimensions of the Council of Europe ONE in FIVE Campaign to stop sexual violence against children
  • A Strategic Action Plan for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Congress texts

• Reception of women and children refugees in Europe’s cities and regions
  • Report CG(2022)43-14 - Resolution 487 (2022) - Recommendation 481(2022)
• Unaccompanied refugee children: the role and responsibilities of local and regional authorities
  • Report CG34(2018)13 - Resolution 428 (2018) - Recommendation 414 (2018)
• Championing children’s rights in times of austerity: Local and regional authorities’ responsibilities
  • Report CG/2015(29)10 - Resolution 392 (2015) - Recommendation 382 (2015)
• Regional legislation and action to combat sexual exploitation and abuse of children
  • Report CPR(23)3 - Resolution 350 (2012) - Recommendation 332 (2012)
• Preventing violence against children
  • Report CG(17)9 - Resolution 289 (2009) - Recommendation 272 (2009)