On the occasion of the Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse an international conference on “Strengthening the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse through evidence-based policy making” took place in Chișinău on 18 November 2025. Organised under the Moldovan Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, it was the Presidency’s first large-scale event.
The conference followed the recent Implementation report by the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Committee) on data collection mechanisms regarding the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The report highlights the importance of coherent, cross-sector data in shaping effective child protection policies.
High-level government officials, including the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova, delivered opening remarks, reiterating the crucial role of data in enhancing national child protection systems and combating child sexual exploitation and abuse
Throughout the day, experts, practitioners, researchers and civil society representatives took part in thematic discussions and interactive workshops focused on:
- Evidence-based policy making
- Harnessing data from Barnahus and other multidisciplinary and interagency (MDIA) services to inform policies and practice
- Engagement and consultation with children, including victims and survivors
- Enhancing data collection and sharing across different agencies, at state and international levels
- Strengthening policies to prevent re-offending abroad
The Conference is followed by the 46th plenary meeting of the Lanzarote Committee from 19 to 21 November, which is organised with the support of the Moldovan authorities and the International Center La Strada.
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