Sexual violence happens much more than people think. In Europe one child in every five is thought to be the victim of sexual violence. The One in Five campaign against sexual violence towards children was launched in 2010 by the Council of the Europe. Because sexual violence against children is a huge problem with global reach, the campaign materials can be used by anyone anywhere.
The campaign aims to prevent sexual violence against children by raising awareness. With a simple rule, called the Underwear Rule, the campaign helps children understand where others should not try to touch them, and explains to them their rights to speak up against abuse. Read more about the campaign on the Council of Europe's website.
Related to this, there is also a campaign for ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention).
BACKGROUND
In 2010, the Council of Europe and the Italian Ministry for Equal Opportunities launched a European campaign called One in Five to promote legal, educational and other measures needed to combat all forms of sexual violence against children.
Sexual violence happens much more often than people think. One child in five in Europe is thought to be a victim of sexual violence. In 70 to 85 per cent of cases, children know their aggressors. In 90 per cent of cases, sexual offences are not reported to the authorities.
The campaign aims to raise awareness among children, parents, teachers and other people in contact with children about the scale of the problem and to provide them with the knowledge they need to prevent sexual abuse and to report it.
The measures promoted by the campaign are contained in a recent Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention). The campaign’s main objective is to obtain the ratification and effective implementation of the Convention by all Council of Europe member States.
The campaign sets a simple rule, called the Underwear Rule, to help parents explain to their children where others should not try to touch them, their right to set limits, and the need to express their feelings and speak up against abuse. The rule is explained in a TV spot, a children’s book, a website and other support materials featuring a character called Kiko.
NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS
The Council of Europe hopes to reach out to the widest possible audience and it therefore welcomes a broad partnership base: from governments, national ministries and parliaments to local and community-based civil society associations and professional networks.
Below are some of the campaign partners in the member and non-member states that have entered into agreement with the Council of Europe:
– Armenia – Public Health and Medicine Development Fund of Georgia
– Azerbaijan – State Committee on Family, Women and Children’s Affairs of Azerbaijan
– Bulgaria - Social Activities and Practices Institute Association
– Croatia – Ministry of the Family, Veterans’ Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity
– Cyprus – UNCRC Policy Centre "Hope for Children", University of Cyprus, Office of the Commissioner for Children's Rights, City of Nicosia, Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO, Independent Advisory Committee for the Prevention of Violence in the Family
– Czech Republic – Office of the Government of the Czech Republic
– Georgia – Public Health and Medicine Development Fund of Georgia
– Greece – Hellenic Parliament
– Italy – Ministry of Equal Opportunities, Republic of Italy
– Latvia – Centrs Dardedze
– Lithuania – Children Support Centre
– Malta – Office of the Commissioner for Children
– Mexico – Senate of the Republic of Mexico
– Republic of Moldova – National Center for Child Abuse Prevention
– Montenegro – Permanent Mission of Montenegro to the Council of Europe
– Poland – Nobody's Children Foundation (Underwear Rule Webpage)
– Portugal – Ministry of Solidarity and Social Security, Assembleia da República
– Romania – Assistance and Programs for Sustainable Development - Agenda 21
– Russian Federation – National Committee of Support of Motherhood and Childhood
– San Marino – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
– Serbia – Incest Trauma Centar – Belgrade
– Slovenia – Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
– Sweden – Stiftelsen Allmänna Barnhuset (Children's Welfare Foundation)
– Turkey – International Children's Center (ICC)
– Ukraine – Child Well-being Fund
– United Kingdom – National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Is your country already involved in the ONE in FIVE campaign? Find out here.
ONLINE PLATFORM FOR TOWNS AND REGIONS
To mobilise municipal and regional authorities for the Council of Europe's ONE in FIVE campaign to combat child sex abuse, local and regional authorities are being urged to sign up en masse to the "Pact of Towns and Regions".
The Pact suggests initiatives and measures that can be taken to combat sexual violence against children – from simple, cost effective actions to comprehensive strategies. These proposals are based on the four "Ps”: prevention of abuse, protection of victims, prosecution of perpetrators andparticipation by children.
But if the pact is to be successful, and the aims of the Lanzarote Convention achieved, as many towns, regions, associations and other organisations as possible need to sign up. And in just a few clicks, it is possible to create a page dedicated to your initiatives on a shared online platform, which has been specially developed to facilitate an exchange of information and good practices, for showcasing the policies and initiatives they are being implemented, and to ensure a Europe-wide promotion of local and regional authorities' efforts to stop sexual violence against children. To register your authority's or organisation's initiatives, click here.
OTHER CAMPAIGNS AND INITIATIVES
– Global campaigns and initiatives
– Campaigns and initiatives in Europe
– Campaigns and initiatives in the United States
– Other regional and global initiatives
WHAT CIVIL SOCIETY CAN DO
Has your country signed and ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention)? See here.
If not, see here to learn what you can do to make it happen.
The Council of Europe will collaborate with NGOs, INGOs and civil society networks in sharing information, policy and legal advice, good practice in child protection, and tools for the eradication of sexual violence against children.
For more on how civil society and individuals can assist in the campaign, click here.