■Children are increasingly exploring and expressing their sexuality through information and communication technologies (ICTs), in particular social media and messaging applications. This includes generating and sharing sexually suggestive or explicit images and/or videos of themselves.
However, they often underestimate the risks associated with this behaviour, are under peer pressure to share such images and/or videos, or are tempted to engage in risky behaviour. It is essential to develop comprehensive prevention programmes to avoid such behaviour, as such images and/or videos may end up on the internet and may result in children being
targeted for sexual coercion and/or extortion.
The 2020 edition of the European Day therefore focuses on “Preventing risky behaviour by children:
child self-generated sexual images and/or videos”.
■The Council of Europe encourages the organisation of any type of activity around this theme in order to raise awareness of children and adults on these risks and how to protect children from them. The Council of Europe also encourages exchanges, in particular between children and parents, among parliamentarians, educators and other professionals.
■To this end, the Council of Europe is providing good practices which can easily be duplicated.
Contact: [email protected]
Websites:16 www.coe.int/EndChildSexAbuseDay
www.coe.int/children
Twitter: 16 @coe_children / #EndChildSexAbuseDay
Facebook: Council of Europe One in Five Campaign
Instagram: @councilofeurope
