Cyprus ratifies Lanzarote Convention | WPN World People News

“The ratification of the Lanzarote Convention by the Republic of Cyprus is a continuation of our country’s commitment, at national and international level, for the defense of children's rights,” said PACE General Rapporteur on Children, Stella Kyriakides (Cyprus, EPP/CD), who welcomed yesterday’s unanimous vote by the Cypriot House of Representatives.

This is only one of the many upcoming events in the Republic of Cyprus celebrating the ONE in FIVE campaign, as announced at a press conference in Nicosia yesterday. An awareness campaign on the island over the coming month will include, in particular, seminars and lectures on the role of educators, raising awareness of the issue among university students, a lecture for parents, one on violence in the family, and one on webcam child sex tourism. The campaign will conclude with the release on 10 December of a report by the University of Cyprus on child sexual abuse in this country.

The Lanzarote convention requires the criminalisation of all kinds of sexual abuse against children. It sets out that states in Europe and beyond shall adopt specific legislation and take measures to prevent sexual violence, to protect child victims and to prosecute perpetrators.

Source: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe