Brussels, 25/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - For the third year running, the European Commission is supporting the International Missing Children's Day on 25 May, organised by the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children. The Commission recalls in a press release that, to strengthen its actions in favour of children and young people, it adopted a communication entitled “towards an EU strategy on the rights of the child” advocating the setting up of a “European Forum for the Rights of the Child” as an instrument for promoting the effective exchange of information and good practices and establishing a network of stakeholders in this field. The first meeting of the forum will be held on 4 June in Berlin. “In the framework of the G8 justice and interior ministers meeting in Munich (see related article), I will discuss the means to combat sexual abuse of children, in particular, prosecuting sexual offences committed abroad and stepping up international efforts to fight child pornography”, said Franco Frattini, Commission vice president responsible for justice, freedom and security.
Immediately after the communication on EU strategy on the rights of the child, the European Forum for the Rights of the Child will be set up in Berlin on 4 June 2007 in the presence of EU justice ministers. It will gather representatives of member states, mediators for children, the Council of Europe, UNICEF, non-governmental organisations, the civil society and other interested parties. It aims to bring parties involved together in one and the same place of work. For the Commission, this common place of work will be the determining factor for sharing specialised knowledge, information, measures, results and good practices, as well as for taking a closer look at these factors in order to ensure they are put to optimal use. The question of knowing how to guarantee significant participation of children at the forum will be the focus of debates during the first meeting. Franco Frattini will given an opening speech entitled “Towards a European strategy on the rights of the child”. During the afternoon of 4 June, high level experts will tackle the theme of chid pornography and pederasty from the following aspects: medical therapy, prevention, prosecution procedures and how measures relating to the use of credit cards may contribute to limiting access to child pornography. (ol)