92001E3011

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3011/01

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Council

(22 October 2001)

Subject: Commercial and sexual exploitation of children

The Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children is to be held in Yokohama, Japan, from 17 to 20 December 2001.

Will the Council be taking part in that Congress? What views will it express and what commitments will it give as the European Union's contribution to the international fight against the sexual and commercial exploitation of children, and what is its assessment of its policy so far?

Does it have an evaluation of the implementation of the action plans adopted at the First World Congress held in Stockholm in 1996?

Reply

(14 February 2002)

There are plans for a representative of the Council or the Council Presidency to attend the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children although a decision has not yet been taken.

The Council has already had the opportunity in reply to Question 8 No H-0431/01 put by the Honourable Member to stress the importance it attaches to combating the sexual exploitation of children and to draw up a list of the initiatives it has taken in the field. The Council's position on previous initiatives will serve as a rule of thumb for its representative if it is decided to participate in this conference.

The Council does not have an assessment of the implementation of the action plans adopted at the previous conference.