MEETING WITH THE FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND THE BRAVE MOVEMENT ON THE PROPOSED REGULATION ESTABLISHING RULES TO PREVENT AND COMBAT THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS

Last Tuesday, September 19, MEP Javier Zarzalejos held a meeting with two activists and a survivor of the Brave Movement, as well as with a representative of the Federation of Associations for the Prevention of Child Abuse (Fapmi – ECPAT Spain), to discuss the proposal for a Regulation establishing rules to prevent and combat sexual abuse of children, for which he is the rapporteur.

Fapmi-ECPAT Spain is a non-profit organization that works in the defense of the rights of minors, as well as in the prevention of any form of violence towards them. It is also a member of ECPAT International, a global network of organizations dedicated to ending child sexual exploitation.

On the other hand, the Brave Movement is a movement of survivors and allies dedicated to promoting advocacy and campaigns to combat child sexual abuse.

At the meeting, the activists emphasized that, in Europe alone, one in five children is a victim of sexual abuse, an alarming figure that is increasing every day. In addition, Zarzalejos pointed out that technology and, in particular, social networks, have aggravated the dissemination of child sexual abuse content: at least two images or videos of child sexual abuse are shared on the Internet every second. In other words, victims not only have to deal with the traumatic experience of being sexually abused, but also face constant re-victimization every time their images are shared.

Both the representatives of the two organizations and the MEP point out that it is of particular urgency to address this problem, and welcome the development of a Regulation that will establish legal mechanisms to better protect minors.

Zarzalejos, rapporteur of the Regulation, thanked them for the support they have been expressing for this legislative proposal.