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Recommendation 2175 (2020)
Addressing sexual violence against children: stepping up action and co-operation in Europe
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers
to its Resolution 2330
(2020) “Addressing sexual violence against children:
stepping up action and co-operation in Europe” and acknowledges
the progress made so far at national, European and international
levels in addressing sexual violence against children.
2. The Assembly welcomes the work done by the Lanzarote Committee,
which supports the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention
on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual
Abuse (Lanzarote Convention, CETS No. 201) by Council of Europe
member States. The convention’s monitoring mechanism has been successful
in identifying key challenges and providing useful guidance to the
States parties to the convention. Its monitoring function and capacity
should be strengthened to meet evolving needs and respond to States’
expectations.
3. The Assembly greatly values the co-operation that has developed,
in particular between the Council of Europe and the United Nations
Committee on the Rights of the Child, as well as with the UN Special Representative
of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children and with the
UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children.
4. The Assembly is convinced that stronger action is needed on
the part of the Council of Europe and its member States to address
sexual violence against children. The Council of Europe is in a
strategic position to provide necessary guidance and support, in
close co-operation and co-ordination with other European and international
institutions and organisations.
5. In light of the above, the Assembly recommends that the Committee
of Ministers:
5.1. call on the Council
of Europe member States that have not yet ratified the Lanzarote
Convention and the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and
Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul
Convention, CETS No. 210) to do so as a matter of priority, as a
contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms
of violence against and torture of children”;
5.2. call on the countries that are not member States of the
Council of Europe to sign and ratify the Lanzarote Convention;
5.3. support the continuation and further development of the
Start to Talk campaign and the design and promotion of Council of
Europe materials on addressing sexual violence against children;
5.4. further support the European Day for the Protection of
Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse – 18 November
– as an opportunity for raising awareness of sexual violence against children;
5.5. call on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to
support the creation of an observer seat for a Council of Europe
representative.