15 years since its entry into force, the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) remains a cornerstone. While significant progress has been achieved through national frameworks, prevention programmes, and initiatives like the ‘Barnahus’, violence against children persists, and is exacerbated by digital technologies that facilitate the rapid spread of abusive content.
This Conference of Ministers, held under the Maltese Presidency, will aim of taking stock of the progress achieved and explore strategic pathways to tackle existing gaps, particularly in the advent of new technological realities. It will also seek to enhance international cooperation and strengthen policies that empower and protect children. High-level representatives and experts will come together to foster dialogue and collaboration on these pressing issues.
Organised in four structured sessions, the first session will explore the historical concerns that prompted the development of the Lanzarote Convention and highlight the key achievements in state parties since its entry into force. The second and third sessions will then focus on two key themes “Keeping Harm Away from Children” and “Empowering Children to flourish free from Sexual Violence” with a view of exploring strategies to prevent harm and create environments where children can thrive, free from sexual violence. Finally, the fourth session, will examine the Convention’s alignment within the broader international landscape.
The Conference, symbolically take place on the 1 July 2025, commemorating the exact 15-year anniversary since the entry into force of the Lanzarote Convention, will conclude with a children’s statement, and the adoption of an outcome document.
