Handbook on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in crisis and emergency situations (2022)

States’ main obligations under the Lanzarote Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse Under the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (hereafter Lanzarote Convention), Parties’ first obligation consists of taking all the necessary legislative or other measures to prevent children from being sexually exploited and sexually abused, protecting the victims and prosecuting the perpetrators. This means that, to comply with the Lanzarote Convention, national legislation, measures, procedures and facilities must also be applicable to those children affected by crisis and emergencies.On the 10th of March 2022, the Lanzarote Committee3 adopted and published a Statement calling for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse resulting from the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. In particular, it called to “uphold the rights and best interests of the child at all times” and to “take measures to address the specific risk of exposure to sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of migrant and refugee children”.