05/10/2010 Session
, 05.10.2010 – At the end of a debate on child abuse in institutions, the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today called for “more far-reaching measures in the future when it comes to according full justice to victims of past offences”.
According to the Assembly, “more committed action will be required” at national level when it comes to reinforcing legislation on child abuse and applying it to various institutional contexts. No authority or institution “should be exempt from critical review”, as “all institutions without exception” are subject to the same national legislation, in particular in the field of criminal law.
The adopted text, based on the proposals by the rapporteur (Marlene Rupprecht, Germany, SOC), expresses concern at the “lack of committed action” which has sometimes been observed when it comes to dealing with offences against minors. It recommends that European governments ensure legislative protection by providing for the ex-officio prosecution in cases of child abuse in any context, defining as illegal and excluding certain practices with regard to the punishment of minors in institutions which are contrary to their dignity and rights.
The Assembly also calls for reinforcing rules and modalities for the external supervision of various institutions, notably ensuring that institutions are never run and supervised by the same authority. It also advocates the setting up of neutral, independent and child sensitive bodies that children can safely access and consult with confidentiality whenever they feel threatened, suffer abuse or witness it in their institutions.
The adopted text calls on the Council of Europe member states to sign and ratify the Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, and invites public authorities and national parliaments to join in the Council of Europe’s campaign to stop sexual violence against children, which will be launched in Rome on 29 and 30 November 2010.