Brussels, 16/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 15 November, the Council of the EU definitively adopted the directive penalising child sexual abuse and child pornography. The directive will be transposed over the next two years and will harmonise the definition of around 20 criminal offences in this field and will also set out maximum sentences, including ten-year prison sentences.
The new rules also include provisions for tackling online child pornography and sexual tourism (the law includes the setting up of an official body that will deal with nationals from member states who have committed offences of this nature abroad) and will prevent convicted paedophiles travelling from one EU member state to another and exercising a profession that could involve regular contact with children. The directive also introduces measures to protect child victims during investigations and legal proceedings. (SP/transl.fl)