On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast)
FEMM-AD-766976
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality · Rapporteur: Heléne Fritzon
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The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality proposes amendments to the proposed directive on combating child sexual abuse, emphasizing gender-based violence, consent, and support for victims.¶¶¶ Amendments broaden definitions to include AI-generated material, instruction manuals, and sexual extortion; raise penalties; extend limitation periods; and mandate gender-sensitive training and services.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee proposes amendments to strengthen the directive's gender perspective, expand definitions, increase penalties, and enhance victim support.¶¶¶
Key points
- Recognizes child sexual abuse as a form of gender-based violence disproportionately affecting girls, with most perpetrators being men.¶
- Expands definition of child sexual abuse material to include AI, deepfakes, VR/XR, and material sexualizing children without genital focus.¶¶¶
- Adds new offences: child sexual abuse instruction manuals, sexual extortion, grooming, and conversion therapy practices.¶¶¶
- Requires consent to be explicit, informed, and voluntary; silence or non-resistance cannot be considered consent.¶¶¶
- Increases minimum penalties for various offences, including up to 12 years for rape and coercion.¶¶¶
- Extends limitation periods for prosecution and compensation to at least 30 or 35 years after majority, with no limitation for serious offences.¶¶¶
- Mandates gender-sensitive, trauma-informed training for professionals and volunteers working with children.¶¶¶
- Requires support services to be comprehensive, including sexual and reproductive healthcare, and accessible to victims and survivors.¶¶
- Establishes multidisciplinary structures based on Barnahus model for child-friendly justice.¶
- Calls for data collection disaggregated by sex/gender and other characteristics to inform prevention.¶¶
Who is affected
- Member States: must implement new offences, higher penalties, longer limitation periods, and gender-sensitive measures.¶¶¶
- Professionals and volunteers working with children: mandatory training on identification and reporting.¶¶
- Victims and survivors: entitled to free legal representation, compensation paid directly, and comprehensive healthcare.¶¶¶
- Digital platforms and hosting providers: subject to new offences for hosting child sexual abuse material.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 1.3 million reports of child sexual abuse in the EU in 2023, over 3.4 million images and videos.¶
- 9 out of 10 victims are girls.
- 59% of child sexual abuse material hosted in Member States.
- At least 30 years limitation period for offences with maximum penalty of at least 3 years.¶¶
- At least 35 years for offences with maximum penalty of at least 5 years.¶¶
- No limitation period for offences with maximum penalty of at least 8 years.¶¶