In 2023, approximately 785,000 reports of potential cases of online child abuse were made globally, and 83% of the victims depicted in this material were children aged 3-13, states the Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights, Despina Michailidou, in her message for November 18, designated as a European Day of Awareness and Action for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
As noted in her announcement, November 18 was established by the Council of Europe in 2015 to raise public awareness, promote prevention actions, and break the silence around issues of child sexual abuse.
For 2024, the Council of Europe has prioritised the theme: “Emerging Technologies: Threats and Opportunities for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.” Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality are frequently used for sexual offences against children in social networking environments and online gaming platforms. This increases risks such as exposure to harmful content and incitement to traffic material that endangers a child, she noted. Additionally, the existing legislation in Europe does not fully address these issues, and public awareness of these risks stemming from the use of modern technology is still lacking.
Statistics related to online material sound the alarm, the Commissioner states, noting that approximately 785,000 reports of potential cases of online child abuse were made globally in 2023. Eighty-three per cent of the victims depicted in this material are children aged 3-13, “a fact that surprises but also highlights the need for collective action to protect all children, regardless of age or gender,” she said. Moreover, she adds that data shows 16% of victims are aged 14-17, an increase from 11% in 2022 to 16% in 2023. Ninety-five per cent of the victims are girls.
“These numbers should not just concern us but also mobilise us all to take action for the proper use of emerging technologies and the discovery of innovative ways to utilise them,” Michailidou emphasises, adding that it is everyone’s obligation to promote awareness for the proper use of these technologies. “On the occasion of the European Day, let us all commit to becoming informed and taking action to ensure children can navigate the digital world safely.”
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Source: CNA
