{"id":19314,"date":"2026-09-06T13:29:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T12:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/europeanobsndfr.org\/?page_id=19314"},"modified":"2026-09-06T14:54:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T13:54:23","slug":"directive-2011-93-ue-child-protection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/europeanobsndfr.org\/en\/directive-2011-93-ue-child-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"OENDDF Statement on the Revision of Directive 2011\/93\/UE"},"content":{"rendered":"

OENDDF Statement on the Revision of Directive 2011\/93\/UE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children<\/h3>\n

Statement by the European Observatory on Non-Discrimination and Fundamental Rights on the revision of the EU directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children \u2014 Christine Monty, President of OENDDF<\/em><\/p>\n

The European Observatory on Non-Discrimination and Fundamental Rights (OENDDF) welcomes the EU’s initiative to revise Directive 2011\/93\/UE on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. Since 2011, new technologies have evolved drastically, challenging existing child protection policy, and the Covid-19 crisis confirmed the urgent need to update the EU’s legal framework. The Observatory puts forward several recommendations to strengthen this revision.<\/p>\n

Developing the political will to match the scale of the issue<\/h3>\n

On the ground, fighting child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSEA) is not only a legal issue: it requires putting an end to a culture of non-punishment that persists at every level of society. OENDDF observes that many CSEA cases are dealt with in criminal courts rather than the assizes, which minimises the qualification of the facts and shortens the sentences handed down. The Observatory calls for a redeployment of police and judicial priorities, which today remain more focused on other forms of crime than on child protection.<\/p>\n

Harmonised definitions for new cyber-crimes<\/h3>\n

The multiplicity of national definitions of abuse paralyses international cooperation. OENDDF recommends that the directive explicitly cover every form of online abuse \u2014 including the sharing of self-produced material without the child’s knowledge and computer-generated imagery \u2014 and adopt an anti-victim-blaming policy to encourage children to report such abuse.<\/p>\n

Strengthening cooperation between law enforcement and internet suppliers<\/h3>\n

Law enforcement services are often under-resourced to fight cyber-crime effectively, while self-regulation by internet suppliers has proven insufficient. The Observatory recommends a binding legal framework, including holding hosting providers accountable when they fail to protect children, particularly in the case of so-called \u00ab\u00a0bulletproof hosting\u00a0\u00bb.<\/p>\n

An opt-in notification policy to protect victims of \u00ab\u00a0known material\u00a0\u00bb<\/h3>\n

Once published online, child sexual abuse material can be re-shared indefinitely \u2014 so-called \u00ab\u00a0known material\u00a0\u00bb, which accounted for nearly 60% of reports in 2020 according to the international INHOPE hotline network. Every re-sharing re-victimises the child and worsens their trauma. OENDDF recommends an opt-in notification policy, so that victims are only informed of a new posting of their material if they wish to be.<\/p>\n

Tackling the commercialisation of abuse and protecting the most vulnerable children<\/h3>\n

The Observatory warns of the growing commercialisation of child sexual abuse material online \u2014 hosting sites that pay per download, live-streamed abuse \u2014 and calls for pressure on platforms to detect and remove such content. Particular attention must be paid to children in situations of vulnerability, from disadvantaged backgrounds or unaccompanied migrant children, who are especially exposed to trafficking and prostitution.<\/p>\n

Prevention, victim support and programmes for offenders<\/h3>\n

OENDDF recommends adopting a best-practices guide for prevention campaigns, cross-border support for victims, and the presence of trusted figures in children’s daily lives, such as school nurses. The Observatory also calls for mandatory intervention programmes for convicted offenders, as well as voluntary programmes for people who fear they might offend.<\/p>\n

📄 Download the full statement (PDF)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n

Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What does OENDDF call for in its position on Directive 2011\/93\/UE?<\/h3>
\n

OENDDF calls for harmonised definitions of online sexual abuse, a binding legal framework for internet suppliers, an opt-in notification policy to protect victims of \u201cknown material\u201d, and stronger prevention, victim support and offender programmes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is \u201cknown material\u201d and why does OENDDF recommend an opt-in notification policy?<\/h3>
\n

\u201cKnown material\u201d refers to child sexual abuse images that have already been identified but continue to be re-shared online \u2014 accounting for nearly 60% of reports in 2020 according to the INHOPE hotline network. OENDDF recommends that victims only be notified of a new posting of their material if they wish to be, to avoid re-victimising them with every re-sharing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How does OENDDF propose to better protect the most vulnerable children?<\/h3>
\n

The Observatory calls for pressure on platforms to detect and remove content that commercialises abuse, and for particular attention to children in situations of vulnerability \u2014 from disadvantaged backgrounds or unaccompanied migrant children \u2014 who are especially exposed to trafficking and prostitution.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Statement submitted by the European Observatory on Non-Discrimination and Fundamental Rights (OENDDF) as part of the revision of EU Directive 2011\/93\/UE on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. <\/em>Lire la version fran\u00e7aise<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Any reproduction, in part or in full, must credit the source: OENDDF.<\/em><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OENDDF Statement on the Revision of Directive 2011\/93\/UE Combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children Statement by the European Observatory on Non-Discrimination and Fundamental Rights on the revision of the EU directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children \u2014 Christine Monty, President of OENDDF The European Observatory on Non-Discrimination…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19335,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19314","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t