The Lanzarote Committee also seeks the views of representatives of civil society and any other bodies involved in preventing and combating sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.

In accordance with the Lanzarote Committee’s Rules of procedure, such views are sought “in particular by asking them to comment on the replies to the questionnaire submitted by the Parties or by any other means, in one of the official languages of the Council of Europe and within the time-limit set by the Lanzarote Committee. The secretariat transmits these comments to the Party(ies) concerned and makes them public.”

If they so wish, representatives of civil society and any other bodies involved in preventing and combating sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children may also reply to the questionnaire with or without commenting on replies of one or more Parties. The replies are published in one of the two official languages of the Council of Europe (either in English or in French).

Practical information to guide civil society in commenting/replying may be found here.