Child abuse in institutions in Europe

Reply to Recommendation | Doc. 16071 | 07 November 2024

Author(s):

Committee of Ministers

Origin

Adopted at the 1510th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (23 October 2024). 2024 - November Standing Committee (Luxembourg)

Reply to Recommendation

: Recommendation 2269 (2024)

1. The Committee of Ministers has carefully examined Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 2269 (2024) “Child abuse in institutions in Europe”. It has forwarded it to the relevant committees for information and possible comments. [(1) Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF), Committee of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Committee).] It welcomes the Assembly’s constant attentions to the rights of the child, and in particular to promoting the protection of children from suffering, abuse and violence, sexual or otherwise. Children are still too often the victims of abuse, without a voice, and we must strive to ensure that no child in our member States, including those in institutions, should ever be subject to violence or ill‑treatment.

2. In paragraph 3 of its recommendation, the Assembly encourages the Lanzarote Committee to “take into account the example of good practice in Switzerland, which has recognised its share of the responsibility for violations of the rights of children placed in institutions and has presented public apologies to victims” and to “support the memorial efforts of the member States”. In this context, the Committee of Ministers can inform the Assembly that the Lanzarote Committee, in considering the recommendation, held a discussion which touched upon the issues raised by extradition, the challenges related to tackling child abuse in faith-based and sports institutions, and the abuse of children in non-Catholic institutions. The Lanzarote Committee confirmed that the issues raised in the Parliamentary Assembly’s report would be looked into in the course of the ongoing third monitoring round on the protection of children against abuse in the circle of trust, and the Parliamentary Assembly’s recommendations would be considered.

3. The Committee of Ministers also informs the Assembly that the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF) has been tasked, under its terms of reference, to conduct an implementation review on Recommendation Rec(2005)5 on the rights of children living in residential institutions by the end of 2027.

4. Finally, the Committee of Ministers has taken good note of the Assembly’s recommendation in paragraph 4 which encourages it to support the efforts of member States to recognise the suffering inflicted and deal with its consequences. It invites all member States to give this matter due consideration.