Pavlo Kostenko,
the Chairman of the Committee, opening the meeting declared that the Verkhovna
Rada of Ukraine
had already adopted a number of bills and laws regarding the Protection of
Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, physical and mental
violence etc.
Moreover, the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse No.: 201 is being prepared for the ratification by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The People´s Deputies stated that this Convention is the first instrument to establish the various forms of sexual abuse of children as criminal offences, including such abuse committed in the home or family, with the use of force, coercion or threats. Preventive measures outlined in the Convention include the screening, recruitment and training of people working in contact with children, making children aware of the risks and teaching them to protect themselves, as well as monitoring measures for offenders and potential offenders.
The "round table" participant also emphasized that Ukraine is one of 25 world countries that have totally prohibited on the legislative level violence against children in any its manifestations.
Though, the participant briefed that the problem of violence against children still remains urgent in Ukraine. Hence, the Committee members emphasized that it is extremely necessary to take into the consideration the specialists´ opinion regarding the implementation of the National Program "national Actions Plan regarding the implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child" for the period till the year 2016"; formation of the efficient mechanism of detection and reaction on violence cases; analysis of the necessary legislative amendments regarding the possible ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse No.: 201; child´s rights protection practice; social support of a child that suffered violence; possible protection of a victim child in the court.