Investigating online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) is one of the most challenging and sensitive topic as it requires highly specialised skills from law enforcement, given the vulnerability of the victims and the complexity and seriousness of the offences involved. To strengthen capacities and improve co-operation in tackling this threat, the regional training on investigating OCSEA is organised in Pristina, on 14–15 April, followed by a regional meeting on 16 April.
The training brought together law enforcement authorities from Albania, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Egypt and Jordan, focusing on practical approaches to handling reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). It also covered the use of open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools, analysing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and identifying victims, conducting child-sensitive interviews, collecting electronic evidence, and addressing challenges related to financial flows in OCSEA cases.
The meeting on 16 April brings together law enforcement representatives, as well as local and international service providers, to strengthen co-operation and information exchange in child abuse criminal investigations. Representatives from Meta, TikTok, Google, Coinbase, and the SIRIUS project of EUROPOL and EUROJUST are participating, presenting the support they can offer for investigations, along with existing frameworks and templates for data sharing. The meeting is featuring practical sessions, examples of good practices alongside open discussions and peer exchange on co-operation in practice.
These activities are part of a broader, ongoing effort to strengthen investigative capacities and enhance cross-border cooperation in combating OCSEA. They build on a series of previous capacity building initiatives in this field, including participation in the Europol Victim Identification Task Force (VIDTF), the INTERPOL International Child Sexual Exploitation Database (ICSE) training, and the Advanced regional training on investigating OCSEA held in Bucharest in 2025, as well as the strong commitment of the Kosovo Police to host these events in Pristina.
By equipping law enforcement professionals with the practical skills, industry tools, and a clear understanding of existing data-sharing frameworks, these activities help strengthen the response to OCSEA threats and contribute to a safer online environment for children.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
**the news item was translated by DeepL
Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC)
CYBERKOP Action of the Octopus Project
Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)