EU Funding Available for Child Protection as Every Fifth Child in the 27 EU Member States Falls Victim to Pedophiles
The European Commission has put forward new recommendations to strengthen integrated child protection systems throughout the EU.
Child abuse and sexual exploitation are increasingly prevalent crimes within EU countries. Estimates suggest that 20% of children living in Europe fall victim to some form of sexual violence. According to data from the World Health Organization, violence is committed against half of all minors worldwide. The actions and omissions of governments impact no social group more profoundly than children. "Protecting them is our legal and moral obligation," stated Commissioner Dubravka Šuica in Strasbourg on Tuesday, presenting the European Commission's (EC) recent recommendations for reinforcing child protection systems in member states.
In its statement, the EC calls on EU governments to develop national plans to eliminate violence against children, ensure effective implementation of EU and national child protection laws, improve data collection, and expand the human and financial resources of relevant institutions.
The EC believes member states must take effective, appropriate, and proportionate measures to protect children from all forms of violence, whether physical or mental abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Child protection systems should be tailored to the needs of children and involve them in decision-making processes that affect them, as outlined in the recommendations. These also emphasize that the community supports countries in implementing necessary system transformations through various tools, including funding. Financial resources are available for combating child trafficking and sexual harassment, eradicating child poverty, and accessing non-segregated services. The Horizon Europe research and development program, which has excluded Hungarian higher education institutions operating as foundations for over a year and a half, also supports various research projects related to the protection of children, including the prevention of child sexual exploitation and domestic and sexual violence.
Furthermore, the European Commission urges member states to develop mental health strategies with a focus on children as a priority group and to improve cooperation among sectors and competent authorities.