It is incumbent upon the European Parliament to ensure that its legislative and non-legislative work is informed to respect, promote and safeguard the rights of the child and to advance children’s lives both within the EU and in its relations with the outside world.

Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union establishes the objective for the EU to promote protection of the rights of the child. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights guarantees the protection of the rights of the child by the EU institutions and by EU countries when they implement EU law.

Children’s rights (2019 - 2020)

The rights of the child are part of human rights: rights that the EU and its Member States must respect, protect and fulfil. The Treaty on European Union establishes the objective for the EU to promote protection of the rights of the child. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU guarantees the protection of the rights of the child by the EU institutions and by EU countries when they implement EU law. Over the years the European Parliament has been instrumental in pushing children's rights to the core of European policies, particularly through its Intergroup on Children's Rights.

On 14 November 2023, the Civil Liberties Committee adopted its position on new measures to protect children online by preventing and stopping child sexual abuse. The draft Parliament position was adopted by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs with 51 votes in favour, 2 against, and 1 abstaining. Inter-institutional negotiations were authorised with 48 in favour, 2 against, and 4 abstaining.

To protect children online, the new rules would mandate internet providers to assess whether there is a significant risk of their services being misused for online child sexual abuse and to solicit children, and to take measures to mitigate these risks. MEPs want mitigation measures to be targeted, proportionate and effective, and providers should be able to decide which ones to use.

They also want to ensure that pornographic sites have adequate age verification systems, flagging mechanisms for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and human content moderation to process these reports. To stop minors being solicited online, MEPs propose that services targeting children should require by default user consent for unsolicited messages, have blocking and muting options, and boost parental control.

Children’s rights

The European Parliament works to ensure that its legislative and non-legislative work respects, promotes and safeguards the rights of the child and advances children’s lives both within the EU and in relation to the outside world.

The EU school fruit, vegetable and milk scheme lasts throughout the school year in the participating EU countries.

Aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among children, the EU school scheme includes the distribution of fruit, vegetables and milk products, as well as dedicated educational programmes to teach pupils about the importance of good nutrition and to explain how food is produced.

#EUelections2019 - Children’s rights

LIBE - Vote on Laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse

EP Plenary - Afghanistan, notably the allegations of sexual abuse of boys in the Logar Province

Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, gives a statement about the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) voting a proposal to lay down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online. The proposal suggests that service providers should be obligated to evaluate the substantial risks of their platforms being used for online child sexual abuse and grooming. It also proposes granting judicial authorities the authority to issue time-limited orders for detecting and removing such materials and establishing an EU Center for Child Protection. This center, among its various responsibilities, would serve as the primary complaint channel for the entire European Union. This news item shows extracts from the vote in the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) and a statement of Javier Zarzalejos, Rapporteur on the proposal for laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse.

Vote on Laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online: extracts from the vote and statement by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), Rapporteur

The draft report of the European Parliament on EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse welcomes and shares the European Commission's proposal’s main aims. Yet the draft report includes a number of new elements. For instance, it includes in its scope search engines and other artificial intelligence systems and limits CSA scanning in E2E encryption to metadata analysis in order to detect suspicious patterns of behaviour without having access to the content of the encrypted communication. Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES) Rapporteur, Paul TANG (S&D, NL), Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), Patrick BREYER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Cornelia ERNST (The Left, DE), shadow rapporteurs, hold a press conference on the proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES) rapporteur, Paul TANG (S&D, NL), Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), Patrick BREYER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Cornelia ERNST (The Left, DE): Proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent child sexual abuse

The internet provides many opportunities for kids to learn and explore, to be creative or to interact with their friends and family, but it also entails many risks such as cyberbullying, age-inappropriate content, disinformation and sexual abuse. In May 2022, the European Commission published a new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+). The new strategy contributes to the vision for the EU's digital transformation by 2030 and reflects the principle, 'Children and young people should be protected and empowered online'. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Creating a better internet for kids

Signature of five COD LEX by David SASSOLI, EP President and by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council in the European Parliament in Brussels (loan facility under the Just Transition Mechanism, cross-border payments in the Union, combating online child sexual abuse, measures for the recognition of third countries certificates and NAFO Regulation).

Lex signing ceremony: signature of Four Lex Cod by David SASSOLI, EP President and Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council

MEPs debated with the Council and the Commission and voted during the plenary session on a temporary regulation that allows the providers of web-based email, chats and messaging services to voluntarily detect, remove and report child sexual abuse online as well as to use scanning technologies to detect cyber grooming. During the debate, MEPs stressed about ensuring a right balance between children's protection and safeguarding privacy.

Combating online child sexual abuse: extracts from the debate (05/07) and from the vote

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the use of technologies for the processing of data for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse: opening statements by Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), rapporteur and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Christine ANDERSON (ID,DE), FEMM. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Use of technologies for the processing of data to combating online child sexual abuse: opening statements by Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), rapporteur, Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Christine ANDERSON (ID, DE)

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the use of technologies for the processing of data for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse.

Use of technologies for the processing of data to combating online child sexual abuse: MEPs debate

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the use of technologies for the processing of data for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse: closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Use of technologies for the processing of data to combating online child sexual abuse: closing statement by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

During the plenary session (16-19 December 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, such as violations of human rights including religious freedoms in Burkina Faso, the allegations of sexual abuse of boys in the Logar Province in Afghanistan, and the Russian "Foreign Agents" Law. Statements by Assita KANKO (ECR, BE), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President, Kati PIRI (S&D, NL), Anna FOTYGA (ECR, PL) and Antony HOOK (RE, UK).

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: extracts from the debates

Debate during the plenary session of February in Strasbourg on the fight against child sexual abuse on the Internet. Statements by Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Timothy KIRKHOPE (ECR, UK), Nathalie GRIESBECK (ALDE, FR) and Martina ANDERSON (GUE/NGL, UK).

Fight against child sexual abuse on the Internet: extracts from the debate

MEPs discuss about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, a report by Roberta ANGELILLI (EPP, IT), rapporteur with Stefan DE CLERCK, on behalf the Belgian Presidency, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children: extracts from the report by Roberta ANGELILLI (EPP, IT), rapporteur

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) is organising a public hearing on "Combating sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography" in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Combating sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography: extracts from the hearing

Petra KAMMEREVERT (S&D) presents her legislative draft opinion on "Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography", in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography: presentation by Petra KAMMEREVERT (S&D)

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) exchange views with Stefaan DE CLERCK, Belgian Minister for Justice, as regard the priorities of the Belgian rotating presidency on Justice matters such as the protection of children, the fight against child pornography, the directive against human trafficking, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

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