Child sexual abuse is a growing problem, to which (unaccompanied) migrant children are particularly exposed
18 November marks the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Children are the most vulnerable group in society and children who are migrating, especially if unaccompanied, face an increased risk of being subjected to violence, including sexual violence, exploitation, and human trafficking.
On 18 November 2024, the European Commission allowed survivors of child sexual abuse to raise their voices about the need to protect children in the EU. Testimonial videos were published to raise awareness about this crime.
This day serves as a reminder that, as stipulated in the EU Strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse, children in migration (in particular unaccompanied minors) and children victims of trafficking (the majority of whom are girls) are particularly exposed to the risks of sexual abuse.
The above-mentioned EU Strategy is the reference framework for EU actions during the 2020 – 2025 period. It includes 8 initiatives to put in place a strong legal framework for the protection of children and facilitate a coordinated approach across the many actors involved in protecting and supporting children. The Strategy also focuses on identifying gaps in legislation as well as best practices and priority actions. It sets out the initiatives to boost coordination, including a prevention network for practitioners and researchers, creating an EU Centre on Child Sexual Abuse (EU Centre), cooperating with industry through the EU Internet Forum and supporting the WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online.
For further details about EU policies on protecting children from sexual abuse, please visit this web page.