ACTION ON INTERNET CHILD ABUSE TO BE STEPPED UP

2.57.14pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 15th Sep 2007

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has welcomed a response from the European Commission to her recent question on child abuse for pornographic purposes.

In the answer, Justice Commissioner Franco Fratini emphasises EU commitment to combating this serious crime through existing activities and outlines future plans, including prioritising the identification and recovery of victims.

Ending sexual exploitation of children is also a priority in the €9.5 million (£6.5 million) Fight Against Crime Annual Work Programme 2007, set up for the development and implementation of legal instruments to fight serious crime.

Speaking today, Liz said:

"I am encouraged by the news on funding and action to combat these evil activities in the Fight Against Crime programme and also by expanding the international telephone hotlines."

Telephone hotlines to report illegal online activity and suspected abuse have existed in some Member States for over a decade and have been more recently introduced in some newer EU countries.

Liz added:

"These hotlines, now in use in 19 countries, are performing a vital function in fighting these crimes and the further involvement of social workers and psychologists as encouraged by the Commissioner can only help this further."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

On the 4th of July 2007, Liz Lynne tabled the following question. This answer from Commissioner Fratini is given underneath.

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3592/07

by Elizabeth Lynne (ALDE)

to the Commission

Subject: Child abuse

How does the Commission intend to strengthen the EU's commitment to the protection of children who are sexually abused for pornographic purposes? Does the Commission agree that it is essential to coordinate efforts with psychologists, social workers and those who work with victims to ensure that comprehensive research can be undertaken to examine the consequences of images of abuse? Can the Commission outline its strategy in relation to this and the funds available?

E-3592/07EN

Answer given by Mr Frattini

on behalf of the Commission

(7.9.2007)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern with regard to the increasing phenomenon of the exploitation and abuse of children for pornographic purposes on the Internet, and is committed to effectively preventing and fighting this serious crime.

In particular, contacts are underway between specialised police units, Internet Service Providers, the banking and credit card sector, and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs), aimed at exploring effective initiatives to prevent and combat such crimes, including tracing of the financial operations on the Internet, the identification of victims of sexual abuse depicted in material online, undercover operations to identify the "groomers" and the perpetrators of production and dissemination of child pornography.

Moreover, the Commission has a long-standing focus on preventing the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material through a succession of Safer Internet Programmes[1]. One of the actions of the Programmes is to support an international network of hotlines coordinated by the Inhope Association[2]. The network has members in 19 European countries allowing the public to report illegal online content. They receive, in particular, reports concerning material depicting sexual abuse of children. The hotlines cooperate with law enforcement and with each other to make sure that the appropriate actions are taken on the reported material.

The Commission agrees that the identification and recovery of children who have been abused for the purpose of the production and distribution of such materials is a priority and encourages further commitment of social workers, psychologists and researchers in the daily work of any dedicated hotlines.

Moreover, the "Prevention of and Fight Against Crime Annual Work Programme" (ISEC) 2007 foresees a total budget of €9.5 million for projects concerning the prevention of and the fight against crime in specific priority areas including sexual exploitation of children. In particular, the annual Work Programme indicates the goal of strengthening the application of and, where necessary, further developing of legal instruments countering the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. The evaluation of the applications is underway, and will be completed by the end of October 2007.