UK takes important step to protect children

The UK has formally ratified the Lanzarote Convention on protecting children against sexual violence in Strasbourg yesterday. The convention will enter into force in the UK on 1 October.

The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, known as the Lanzarote Convention, is part of the United Nations and Council of Europe standards to end all kinds of sexual offences against children, including exploitation of children through prostitution, grooming and offences related to child abuse material. The convention is a legally-binding treaty which obliges countries to take a range of steps to help prevent sexual violence against children, to protect victims and to prosecute offenders.

It also enables participating countries to regularly share information, experiences and best practices.

“I am delighted that the United Kindgom has ratified the Lanzarote Convention,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland.

“This will help to protect children from sexual violence in the UK and, crucially, it will also allow the rest of Europe to benefit from the UK’s depth of experience and expertise in this area.

“I again call on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ireland – the only Council of Europe members to have not yet ratified the convention – to quickly follow suit.”

You can read the UK Government statement on this ratification here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-ratifies-lanzarote-convention-to-tackle-child-sexual-exploitation

 

 

Image credit: Jeffrey, Flickr