14.06.2023

The 38th meeting of the Lanzarote Committee, consisting of representatives of the states that are parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, was held on May 30 - June 2, 2023. Representatives of 43 countries that are members of the Council of Europe and have ratified the convention participated in the meeting, which took place in a hybrid format. Samir Garayev, head of the division of the Main Department on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, participated in the meeting online.
On the first day, discussions focused on the impact of the Ukrainian war on children's vulnerability to sexual exploitation and violence. Subsequently, presentations were delivered by the representative of the United Kingdom and the international non-governmental organization "INHOPE" as part of an exchange of experiences according to the prepared agenda.
The following day, the meeting addressed survey results regarding age limits for sexual activity and time limits for sexual crimes against children across member states. Samir Garayev provided insights into Azerbaijan's legislation in this area in response to queries from the Convention Secretariat.
The agenda then turned to the implementation of the Convention, with Samir Garayev highlighting Azerbaijan's legislative advancements, notably the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 20, 2022. This legislation introduced significant amendments aimed at bolstering child protection and enhancing criminal prosecution related to these offenses.
On June 1, discussions continued on member states' efforts in implementing the Convention, concluding with a presentation by the Ukrainian delegation on violence against children resulting from the Russian military intervention.
June 2 saw a presentation on innovations within the European Police network. Information was also provided on the declaration of the European Day for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Violence in 2023. Additionally, discussions centered on a draft survey for participating states concerning acts of violence against children committed by individuals within a "framework of trust."
The event was conducted in a professional and collaborative atmosphere.