Combating violence against children in Ukraine
Duration until 31 December 2021
The Council of Europe Project Combating violence against children in Ukraine will focus on supporting Ukraine in strengthening its response to child sexual exploitation, including in the digital environment, promoting child-friendly practices with focus on ensuring the rights of child victims and witnesses in proceedings and promoting the rights of the child in the digital environment.
The Council of Europe project Combating violence against children in Ukraine is a direct follow-up to the to the previous Council of Europe project on Combating violence against women and children (2017/DG II/VC/3800) implemented in 2017-2018.
Since 2012 Ukraine is a party to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention), which is the most ambitious and comprehensive international legal instrument aimed at preventing and protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse as well as prosecuting perpetrators and promoting international cooperation in these areas.
The Project will be implemented under the framework of the Council of Europe Action plan for Ukraine (2018-2021) by the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe and in close cooperation with the Council of Europe Office in Kyiv. The action is firmly anchored in the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021), especially with its three priority areas: a life free from violence, child-friendly justice, and children’s rights in the digital environment. It also makes part of the Council of Europe Programme “Building a Europe for and with Children”.
The activities of the Project will promote and be further guided by recommendations and guidelines of the Council of Europe on Integrated National Strategies for the Protection of Children from Violence (CM/Rec (2009)), Child-friendly justice (CM/Rec (2010)) and Guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment (CM/Rec(2018)).
The project itself promotes the implementation of these international standards and builds on the progress and work already carried out at national level. The objectives and goals of the project shall be in line with the following legal acts:
- National Strategy for Reforming the System of Justice for Children by 2023, approved by the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on December 18, 2018 №1027-r.;
- State Social Program "National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child" for the period up to 2021, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on May 30, 2018 № 453;
- Law of Ukraine “On Childhood Protection” of April 26, 2001.
Interagency cooperation
Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) will be better coordinated both at local interagency and national policy levels through training, expert support and provision of recommendations. A coordinated response to child sexual abuse will be ensured by all the relevant stakeholders.
Materials
- Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) of 25.10.2007, ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament on 20.06.2012;
- Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016 – 2021);
- Feasibility assessment of piloting Barnahus model in Ukraine (available in Ukrainian);
- Guidelines for interviewing children who have witnessed and / or been victims of violence and who have committed violence (available in Ukrainian).
Legal and policy framework
The current legal and policy framework will be analysed and assessed with focus on legislation and policies relevant to violence against children, including domestic violence, child sexual exploitation and abuse. Recommendations, tools and other support will be provided and developed to ensure the best interests of the child in proceedings.
Council of Europe standards
- European Convention on Human Rights of 04.11.1950 ratified by Ukrainian Parliament on 17.07.1997 and entered into force on 11.09.1997;
- Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) of 25.10.2007, ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament on 20.06.2012;
- Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016 – 2021);
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)7 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on Guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment;
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2015)4 and explanatory memorandum "Preventing and Resolving Disputes on Child Relocation";
- Guidelines of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on child friendly justice;
- Council of Europe Policy guidelines on integrated national strategies for the protection of children from violence;
- Council of Europe Action plan for Ukraine (2018-2021) approved by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 21 February 2018;
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Leaflet on Article 20 of the Lanzarote Convention - Offences concerning child pornography
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Leaflet on Article 22 of the Lanzarote Convention - Corruption of children
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Leaflet on Article 23 of the Lanzarote Convention - Solicitation of children for sexual purposes
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Handbook for policy makers on the rights of the child in the digital environment;
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"Listen – Act – Change" Council of Europe Handbook on children’s participation.
National Legal Framework
- National Strategy for the Reform of the Juvenile Justice System until 2023, approved by the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on December 18, 2018 №1027-r. (available in Ukrainian);
- State Social Program "National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child" for the period until 2021, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of May 30, 2018 № 453 (available in Ukrainian);
- Law of Ukraine “On Childhood Protection” of April 26, 2001 (available in Ukrainian);
- The procedure for interaction of entities implementing measures in the field of prevention and counteraction to domestic and gender-based violence, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of August 22, 2018 № 658 (available in Ukrainian);
- Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Combating Bullying (Harassment)" of December 18, 2018 (available in Ukrainian).
Reports and analyses
- Progress Assessment Report On the Recommendations of the Gap Analysis of Legislation, Policies and Practices to Prevent and Combat Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Ukraine
- Analysis of the provisions of the Draft Law of Ukraine “On Amending some Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning the Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention)”;
- Legal Analysis on Operation of Barnahus in Ukraine (available in Ukrainian);
- Methodological Guidelines on Investigative Interviewing of Children (available in Ukrainian);
- Methodological recommendations on Monitoring the right of the child to protection from violence and abuse (available in Ukrainian).
Training and capacity building
Legal professionals will be trained on child-friendly justice, family law and online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Social workers, educators, teachers and parents will be trained on preventing and detecting child sexual exploitation and abuse and promoting safe online behaviour for children.
Materials
- Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) of 25.10.2007, ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament on 20.06.2012;
- Internet Literacy Handbook;
- Council of Europe Handbook on children’s participation “Listen – Act – Change”;
- Kiko and the Hand Training for Trainers Manual "Protective Teachers, Protected Children".
Awareness and prevention
The project raises awareness on the phenomenon of child sexual abuse, including online, and the rights of the child in the digital environment in Ukraine. This will be done through a series of activities including a public information and awareness raising campaigns and targeted sensitisation of decision-makers, authorities and professionals.
Materials
- Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) of 25.10.2007, ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament on 20.06.2012;
- Passport to your rights brochure;
- Brochure “I have rights…”;
- Kiko and the Hand children’s book;
- Tell someone you trust video;
- Democracy and Human Rights Start With Us brochure for children;
- Parenting In The Digital Age brochure;
- Leaflet “Learn about your rights in the digital environment”;
- "Start to Talk" video;
- So this is sexual abuse? brochure.
Clarifications on the Lanzarote Convention
- Leaflet on Article 20 of the Lanzarote Convention - Offences concerning child pornography
- Leaflet on Article 22 of the Lanzarote Convention - Corruption of children
- Leaflet on Article 23 of the Lanzarote Convention - Solicitation of children for sexual purposes
Video
- Tutorial 1 - Online protection of children
- Tutorial 2 - Sextortion
- Tutorial 3 - Sexting
- Tutorial 4 - Sex-chatting
- Tutorial 5 - Grooming
- Tutorial 6 - Sexualised images used in revenge
The main partners of the Project include the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Policy, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Education and Science, Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children's Rights, Office of Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, and Office of the Prosecutor General, National Police, etc. Collaboration and partnerships will be sought with other relevant government institutions, international organisations, as well as civil society organisations active in this field.
Children in Ukraine, in particular those in most vulnerable positions, will benefit from more effective prevention and protection against sexual and other forms of violence through a reinforced child protection system managed by skilled and competent work force. In this context, the Project targets judges, prosecutors, lawyers, law enforcement professionals, social workers, teachers, educators, parents.
