Doc. 11400
2 October 2007

For a Europe-wide sex offenders register

Motion for a resolution
presented by Mrs PERNASKA and others

1.       The whole of Europe is aware of the problem of children disappearing. There is a need to address the problem of the setting-up of a sex offenders register together with a child alert system. This raises questions as to how to best protect our children from harm.

2.       There are networks which organise the abduction of children and safe havens for their consequent abuse.

3.       The Assembly is convinced that in the common European legal space which represents the Council of Europe several areas could be improved to prevent child abuse and track the individuals responsible for child abuse crimes. Systems should be devised to help recover missing children. One such tool could well be the establishment of a Europe wide sex offenders register. In the United Kingdom a Child Rescue alert system was launched last year. In the US there is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (recovered 110,000 – 86% of 127,000 reported missing children). Similar centres could be created in Council of Europe member countries.

4.       The Assembly calls on governments to support a Europe-wide sex offenders register and to devise common policies to fight against serious crimes committed against children.

Signed^1:

• PERNASKA Lajla, Albania, EPP/CD
• ALAY FERRER Vicenç, Andorra, SOC
• FLYNN Paul, United Kingdom, SOC
• FROMMELT Doris, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD
• HOVHANNISYAN Vahe, Armenia, NI
• HUSS Jean, Luxembourg, SOC
• JÁUREGUI Ramón, Spain, SOC
• LELIĆ Ruža, Croatia, EPP/CD
• ROSEIRA Maria de Belém, Portugal, SOC
• SAAR Indrek, Estonia, SOC
• SHAHGELDYAN Mher, Armenia, EPP/CD
• STANTCHEVA Darinka, Bulgaria, ADLE
• URBÁNI Milan, Slovakia, NI

¹     SOC: Socialist Group
      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
      EDG: European Democratic Group
      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
      NR: not registered in a group