The Government has approved the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the Lanzarote Convention).

The Convention is a Council of Europe instrument to prevent and combat sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, to protect the rights of child victims of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, and to promote national and international co-operation against such conduct.

It is a significant, international, legal instrument in protecting children.

Justice minister Helen McEntee said this morning: “Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse has devastating consequences for child victims, their families and as society as a whole.  

“Protecting children is a key priority for this Government, and ratifying the Convention delivers an important message that Ireland is committed to the fight against these reprehensible crimes, which target some of the most vulnerable in our society.”

Efforts

She added: “Following yesterday’s approval by Government to ratify the Convention, we will proceed immediately toward formal ratification with the Council of Europe.

"Today’s approval is the result of much work from many people over a number of years, and ratification is not the end of our efforts. 

“The Government will continue to work to implement important protections for children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, and will continue critical work to hold perpetrators to account. The prevalence of this violence means we that cannot lessen our efforts.

“Ratification of the Lanzarote Convention is another step in our committed fight against these crimes on the national and international stage,” she concluded.