Combating sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography

The Council examined the state of play regarding two proposals aimed at:

(a) improving the fight against sexual abuse and exploitation of children; and

(b) strengthening the fight against trafficking in human beings (see CNS/2009/0050).

The Council instructed its preparatory bodies to continue examining the proposals, pending the opinion of the European Parliament.

A number of outstanding issues have been identified concerning both proposals, including:

• the question of the legal basis;
• the penalties' system, in particular the severity of the penalties and the level of differentiation according to the types and gravity of the offences;
• the question of jurisdiction, in particular the extra territorial one in order to combat phenomena such as sex tourism;
• the question of protection of and assistance to victims.