On 8 May the first Caffè Europa 2023 edition took place in Mestre on the theme “Europe and children” was held at the M9 Museum in Mestre. The event was moderated by the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Venice, Luisella Pavan-Woolfe, who recalled the importance of acknowledging and granting children’s human rights, their fragility and exposure to both online and offline violence.

The event was attended by Andrea Tomaello, deputy Mayor of Venice, who confirmed the attention given to children by his administration. Mario Caramel, regional guarantor of personal rights, explained his role in promoting the protection of minors; Simone Padovani, director for Italy of the Swiss Foundation Guido Fluri, spoke of sexual exploitation and abuse and of the transversality of European initiatives to fight the phenomenon.