Doc. 9573

24 September 2002

Sexual exploitation of children: zero tolerance

Opinion¹

Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Rapporteur: Mr Rino Piscitello, Italy, Liberal, Democratic and Reformers' Group

I.       Conclusions of the committee

1.       The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights agrees unreservedly with the proposals made by the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee.

2.       It wishes, however, to propose the following amendments.

II.       Proposed amendments

Amendment A

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 10, add a new paragraph:

"The Assembly asks the member States of the Council of Europe to increase the regulation of children's homes."

Amendment B

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 10, add a new paragraph:

"The Assembly asks the member States of Europol to:

i.       support Europol in its task of combating trafficking in human beings, including child pornography;

ii.       support and invest in the Europol Information Service specifically dealing with child abuse, including the registration of final convictions;"

Amendment C

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 10, add a new paragraph:

"Lastly, the Assembly asks the European Union to open the Europol Convention, by amendment of the Convention, to States outside the European Union regarding specific questions, including trafficking in human beings and child pornography."

III.       Explanatory memorandum

      by Mr Piscitello, Rapporteur

1.       Having followed the discussions in the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, your Rapporteur regards the resulting report as a thoroughly sound text.

2.       He would like, however, to complete the draft resolution by means of three amendments.

3.       Indeed, your Rapporteur considers that a reference to the European Police Office (Europol) might usefully be inserted in the draft resolution with a view to helping it to take effective action in the fight against trafficking in children.

4.       The draft report touches on Europol’s mission in its explanatory memorandum, but without adding any recommendations in the draft resolution.

5.       Your Rapporteur wishes to hereby remedy this omission. He believes that the amendments he has prepared are self explanatory and require no further comment.

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Reporting committee: Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee

Committee for opinion: Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Reference to committee: Doc. 8865 and Reference No 2589 of 14 March 2001 and Doc 9093 and Reference No 2618 of 22 May 2001

Opinion approved by the committee on 24 September 2002

Secretaries to the committee Ms Coin, Mr Sich, Ms Kleinsorge, Mr Ćupina, Mr Milner

¹ See Doc 9535, presented by the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee.