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Zarzalejos met with a delegation of experts from the ANAR Foundation (Aid to Children and Adolescents at Risk) who, in light of the conclusions of their latest annual report, wished to convey to European legislators the reality they face on a daily basis and to learn first-hand about the measures the European Union is considering to address the problems threatening European children and adolescents.<\/p>\n
In 2024, ANAR assisted 18,348 children and adolescents throughout Spain, of whom 6,956 required immediate intervention. To provide appropriate guidance, 286,566 requests for help had to be handled, representing a 12% increase compared to 2023. Forty-three percent of the consultations were related to mental health, and suicidal behavior has become, for the third consecutive year, the leading reason for seeking help.<\/p>\n
They also explained that there has been a noticeable increase in child pornography and child prostitution, driven in part by the impact of technology: greater access to and early exposure to pornographic content, increased online exploitation and abuse, the normalization of violence and abuse, and manipulation or coercion to produce sexual material, among other factors.<\/p>\n
Zarzalejos explained that the European Parliament\u2019s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs is currently working on three fronts to protect minors. First, by harmonizing the definitions and penalties of sexual offences against children through an update of the Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. Second, through the reform of the Directive on the protection of victims of crime in the European Union, which strengthens the rights of minors. And finally, through the Regulation to prevent and combat online child sexual abuse.<\/p>\n
ANAR is a non-profit organization dedicated to listening to and helping minors through free, confidential, 24-hour services (telephone, chat, email), staffed by professionals who provide psychological, social, and legal guidance. In addition, it develops awareness-raising programs, studies and research, and provides foster homes for children without an adequate family environment. Its work also includes providing advice to families and schools in order to prevent risks and promote the well-being of children.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Zarzalejos met with a delegation of experts from the ANAR Foundation (Aid to Children and Adolescents at Risk) who, in light of the conclusions of their latest annual report, wished to convey to European legislators the reality they face on a daily basis and to learn first-hand about the measures the European Union is considering…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-events"],"yoast_head":"\n