VALLETTA, 1 July 2025 – Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights, Michael Falzon, chaired the first-ever Council of Europe ministerial conference on the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Malta, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Lanzarote Convention.
The two-day conference, organised as part of Malta’s Presidency of the Council of Europe, convened over 50 delegations from across the world to evaluate the progress made since the entry into force of the Lanzarote Convention. The convention serves as the principal international instrument aimed at preventing and safeguarding children from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
In his opening remarks, Minister Falzon emphasised Malta’s commitment to promoting children’s rights and highlighting the importance of keeping their protection as a top priority on the global agenda. “This conference marks a significant milestone, uniting voices from around the world to ensure that children’s well-being is central to policymaking. We must always be there for our most vulnerable, making sure that children’s rights are safeguarded across all societies,” Minister Falzon stated.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, praised Malta for taking the lead in hosting this landmark event. He pointed out that although strong legal frameworks are in place, the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements demand more effective implementation mechanisms. “The landscape of child protection has been dramatically altered by Artificial Intelligence, with AI-generated abusive material skyrocketing by 380% in just one year. This situation calls for urgent and coordinated action,” Secretary General Berset emphasised.
A standout moment of the conference was the unanimous adoption of a new political declaration, led by Malta in consultation with children themselves. The declaration aims to bolster child protection systems against sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. It underscores the moral and legal obligations of participating countries to take meaningful action in strengthening legislation, policies, and educational measures, particularly in light of emerging risks linked to digital environments and artificial intelligence.
Minister Falzon emphasised that the declaration aims to strengthen both national structures and international collaboration, while also integrating safety-by-design principles into digital platforms. This initiative aims to enhance preventive education and support children.
The voices of children played a pivotal role throughout the conference, with child representatives participating and sharing their statements and experiences on the risks associated with the digital world. Children’s Commissioner Antoinette Vassallo praised the initiative for providing children with a meaningful platform to influence decisions directly affecting their lives, describing it as a tangible step towards participatory child rights governance.
The conference concluded with a strong commitment from all attending delegations to further reinforce preventive frameworks, expand educational programmes, and pursue continuous research and monitoring of emerging risks, ensuring that child protection remains resilient in the face of evolving global challenges.