Press Release: European Commission wants stronger sanctions against child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and child pornography.

The European Commission proposed on 29 March 2010 new rules obliging EU countries to impose more severe punishment on those who sexually abuse children. The proposal also calls for criminal prosecution of activities like 'grooming' (befriending children with the intention of sexually abusing them) and "sex tourism", even if the child abuse has taken place outside the EU. The Commission also wants more to be done to prevent these offences and to protect the victims. It particularly wants to make sure that offenders can get tailor-made treatment so that they don't abuse again.

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/10/107: Proposal for a Directive on combating sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, repealing Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/107&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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