Marking the first ever Europe-wide action day to end child sex abuse, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland called on member states to raise awareness of child sex abuse and exploitation.

One in five children under the age of 18 in Europe is a victim of sexual violence. In 70 - 85% of cases, the perpetrator is a person known to the child and part of their “circle of trust”. However, much of the suffering remains hidden because children feel afraid to speak out: in 90% of cases, abuse is not reported to the police. (more...)