Accessibility Tools
Service tools
Language selector
Additional tools
When:
05/12/2012 at 11:00
Where:
Brussels, Belgium
Topic:
Justice and citizens rights
Organiser:
European Commission
The news:
On 5 December, Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström together with US Attorney General Eric Holder will launch a Global Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Online, with participation of Ministers and other high-level officials from 45 countries. This initiative aims to unite efforts around the world to more effectively combat online sexual crimes against children. The 45 participating countries will make political commitments to pursue a number of key policy targets and goals, notably: enhancing efforts to identify victims and ensuring that they receive the necessary assistance, support and protection; enhancing efforts to investigate cases of child sexual abuse online and to identify and prosecute offenders; increasing children's awareness of online risks; reducing the availability of child pornography online and the re-victimization of children.
The background:
The EU has made progress on a variety of fronts, not least through ambitious legislation to combat trafficking in Human beings (Directive 2011/36/EU) and the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography (Directive 2011/93/EU). These laws cover the prosecution of offenders, protection of victims and prevention of the crime.
Yet much more needs to be done, and it has to be done globally. The Global Alliance will keep the fight against child sexual abuse online high on national agendas. This in turn is likely to improve resources dedicated to combating these crimes, legislation and cooperation of national forces worldwide. 45 countries are joining forces now, and more may come once the Global Alliance has been formally launched.
In addition to the 27 EU Member States, 19 third countries have so far joined the Global Alliance: Albania, Australia, Cambodia, Croatia, Georgia, Ghana, Japan, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Serbia, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America, and Vietnam.
The event:
A one day launching conference will take place in Brussels under the High Patronage of H.M. Queen Paola of Belgium. Experts and practitioners from participating governments, as well as representatives from NGOs or international organisations and academics will examine the state of the problem and discuss the different policy targets of the Global Alliance.
11.00 Press point with Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström and US Attorney General Eric Holder (VIP corner, Berlaymont building in Brussels).
