Europe’s refugee and migrant crisis will soon enter its third year, with children playing an ever larger part and the impact on their lives all the more tragic. Between January and September 2016, more than 664,500 children claimed asylum in Europe. In Italy, nine in ten children arriving this year are unaccompanied. In Greece, 23,000 children remain in limbo –their futures hanging in the balance, their education on hold.
EU institutions and Member States must do more to protect refugee and migrant children! That’s why a statement was signed by 78 agencies including ECPAT Belgium to mark the opening of the 10th European Forum on the Rights of the Child in Brussels, on November 29th. The 78 partner organisations identify 7 priority actions to protect refugee and migrant children today and prepare them for the future.
Copyright ECPAT Belgique « Stop à l’exploitation sexuelle commerciale des enfants »
ECPAT Belgium’s office has been completely reorganized! Our workspace has been turned upside down in order to be more pleasant and comfortable.
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Meanwhile our library has become a modern, cozy and functional meeting room
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All these changes were made possible thanks to the vision and dynamism of Virginie of Toit Émoi.
Copyright ECPAT Belgique « Stop à l’exploitation sexuelle commerciale des enfants »
ECPAT Belgium was interviewed on November 18th in the RTBF radio program “Le Forum de Midi”, on the occasion of the European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
During the program, Ariane Couvreur spoke about the “I say STOP!” campaign, the Global Survivors’ Forum of ECPAT International and the Global Study on sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism.
To listen to the program (in french), click here!
Copyright ECPAT Belgique « Stop à l’exploitation sexuelle commerciale des enfants »
On the occasion of the European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, ECPAT International organized the first ever “Global Survivors’ Forum” for adult survivors of childhood sexual exploitation. This event was held in Strasbourg within the Council of Europe on November 18th, 2016.
The topics discussed at the roundtable were identified through a participatory and local process involving more than 300 survivors around the world. The latter were able to follow the debates live and join an online platform in order to post their own comments and questions.
At the end of the Forum, a “Bill of Rights for Child Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse” was launched to give a stronger voice to survivors around the globe. The document was shared with children and relevant authorities worldwide.
Copyright ECPAT Belgique « Stop à l’exploitation sexuelle commerciale des enfants »
On October 20th, in front of 100 future tourism professionals, ECPAT Belgium took part in the “Ethics and Tourism” debate organized by Thomas More and Travel Magazine. During this event, Ariane Couvreur was able to present the ECPAT International’s Global Study on the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, the ECPAT Belgium’s study on extraterritoriality and the “I say STOP!” campaign.
Other panelists also participated to the debate:
- Ilse Meyers (Secretary General of the Belgian Tour Operators’ Association),
- Manu Donck (Director of Africa by Excellence),
- Karel Peeters (Director of the Reis in Opleidingscentrum of Ghent) and
- Patrick Geussens (professor of ethics at Thomas More).
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“It is important to be careful if you’re going to Rio in order to support the Team Belgium”. This is the message sent by the Belgian Olympic Committee which supports the “I say STOP!” campaign.
If you witness sexual abuse of children, report on www.isaystop.com.
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The study on the Belgian extraterritorial legislation has drawn extensive media coverage in Belgium.
What are the results of the study ?
How did the Ministers react ?
What measures do they recommend ?
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On the 13th of July 2016, Ariane COUVREUR has been interviewed by RTL TVi to present the main points of the study about extraterritorial legislation in Belgium.
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During the press conference with Ministers Reynders and Geens, ECPAT Belgium has presented the study “Fighting impunity of transnational child sex offenders. What is the impact of the Belgian extraterritorial legislation?”.
The recommendations made in the study have been positively received by the Ministers who announced that they will take the necessary measures. One more step for the protection of children!
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