EU and U.S. launch Global Alliance to fight child sexual abuse online
June 25, 2012
The EU - US Justice and Home
Affairs ministerial meeting held in Copenhagen on June 21, 2012 called upon
governments around the world to participate in building a Global
Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Online. This initiative seeks to
unite decision-makers all around the world to better identify and assist
victims and to prosecute the perpetrators.
"I feel very
strongly about the need to fight these outrageous crimes. We must go
beyond mere declarations of principle and achieve concrete improvements
at national level. The recent adoption of the Directive on child sexual
abuse was an important first step forward. There is, however, a need for
more action worldwide. You will hardly find a case of child sexual
abuse online that does not involve criminals, victims or infrastructure
in third countries. Therefore, together with US Attorney General Mr Eric
Holder, I have proposed a Global Alliance of national Ministers of the
Interior and Justice. The EU and the U.S. have taken the lead in
designing the Alliance, and plan to invite States around the world to
join", said Cecilia Malmström, EU commissioner for Home Affairs,
after her meeting today with Eric Holder, US Attorney General, in
Copenhagen.
Child sexual abuse online is a
crime that is ubiquitous and knows no borders. Child pornography images
circulate easily across jurisdictions and perpetuate victimisation of
children whose abuse is depicted and disclosed time and again. Child
pornography offenders are increasingly operating in international online
groups that use sophisticated technology and security protocols to
frustrate the efforts of law enforcement to investigate their crimes.
Different laws and policies across jurisdictions represent a challenge
for law enforcement.
The Global Alliance will seek to unite countries around the world behind a set of shared goals, notably by:
-
Enhancing
efforts to identify victims, whose sexual abuse is depicted in child
pornography, and ensuring their assistance, support and protection;
-
Reducing the availability of child pornography online and the re-victimization of children;
-
Enhancing efforts to investigate cases of child sexual abuse online and to identify and prosecute offenders;
-
Increasing public awareness of the
risks posed by children’s activities online, including the
self-production of images, in order to reduce the production of new
child pornography.
The Global Alliance builds upon
the successful work of the EU-US Working Group on cyber-security and
cyber-crime, where the fight against child online abuse has been
identified as one of key priorities. The Global Alliance will set out
policy targets and operational goals, giving participants the freedom to
choose the means how to achieve them. Specific actions, their extent
and content, will be decided by participant countries, in accordance
with their national situation.
The formal launch of the Global Alliance is planned for December 2012.
Background
Council Conclusions endorsing the
Global Alliance and its political targets and goals for discussion with
the US at the EU-U.S. JHA Ministerial were adopted at the JHA Council on
7 June 2012.
For more information
Homepage of Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/malmstrom/welcome/default_en.htm
Back to News List