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.

fight against child sex crimes (T)

rights of the child (T)

children's rights (T)

international child abduction (T)

Children’s rights

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

EP Plenary session - 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

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)

Infoclip: Protection of minors from harmful video content

Children's Rights - Oral question to Commission: closing statement by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission

Children's Rights - Oral question to Commission: MEPs debate

EP Plenary session - Children's Right

Children's Rights - Oral question to Commission: opening statements by Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Author and by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission

Combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material : Closing statements by Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration and Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Rapporteur

Combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material: MEPs debate (part 2)

Combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material: MEPs debate (part 1)

EP Plenary session - Strengthening children’s rights in the EU - 35th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material : Opening statements by Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Rapporteur, Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner and Heléne FRITZON (S&D, SE), FEMM Committee

International Day on the Rights of the Child: closing statement by Sandra PEREIRA, Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

International Day on the Rights of the Child: MEPs debate

Joint debate International Day on the Rights of the Child: opening statement by Sandra PEREIRA, Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, VP of the EC in charge of Democracy and Demography and by Ewa KOPACZ, on behalf of the FEMM Committee

Introductory remark by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the International Day on the Rights of the Child (20 Nov.)

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

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

EPRS - Creating a better internet for kids

The risk of illegal adoption concerning Ukrainian children from institutional care fleeing from war: extracts from the exchange of views - JURI and EMPL Committees

Voting session, including the motion for resolution on the EU sanctions against Russia and the Security of gas supply and Conditions for access to natural gas transmission networks

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 3/3)

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 2/3)

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 1/3)

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: extracts from the debate

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: opening statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission for Democracy

The impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children: statements by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL) and Luisa REGIMENTI (EPP, IT), co-rapporteurs, extracts from the debate (04/10) and result of the final vote

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