European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse

Unfortunately, these phenomena still exist in our societies as tragic realities and represent serious violations of children’s rights, with long lasting and often detrimental effects on children’s lives. Since 2015, we celebrate 18 November as the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children can happen at home, in school, during extra curricula activities, on the streets, over the phone, through a webcam or online in general. In most cases (70 to 85%) it is inflicted by someone the child knows, in their circle of trust, and causes lifelong damage to the child’s physical and mental health. In 90% of the cases, the sexual violence acts are not reported to the police.