Another incident of online grooming and child pornography through social networks recently came to the surface again highlighting the dangers lurking on the internet.
Along with the increased use of internet, especially among children and adolescents, the phenomenon of grooming and solicitation via the Internet has developed. This problem has occurred in recent years on an international level and in some countries it has already been criminalized. Early identification of the process of online grooming of minors by law enforcement agencies is an important parameter to avoid the maximum physical and psychological harm effectuated on a minor that can be caused as a result of the above process.
“Hope For Children” UNCRC Policy Centre, as a Cooperating Partner of the Council of Europe for the ONE in FIVE Campaign to stop sexual violence against children, would like to stress once again the urgent need for ratification and implementation of the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention). The Convention lists provisions that must be applied in order to provide proper handling and prevention of all forms of sexual exploitation, including the solicitation and grooming of children.
To increase criminal liability in such cases in Cyprus it is necessary to prove that the person tried at least to commit one of these offenses, as indicated in a recent study of “Hope For Children”, ” Online Grooming of Children: Experiences to be used in Cyprus”. There are known and inherent difficulties in determining the stage at which a preparatory act turns into an actual attempt to commit an offense. According to the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code, for the establishment of an attempt there must be intent to commit an offense, which should be manifested by some overt act. The study also states that the EU Kids Online research describes Cyprus as a country with “greater use, some risk” in this field. You can find the study for online solicitation of minors on the “Hope For Children’s” website at www.uncrcpc.org, under Documentation Centre, or by sending an email to info@uncrcpc.org.
It is important to mention that children and teenagers have the opportunity to address for help and advice anonymously and free of charge at the European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116 111, which operates under the NGO consortium “Hope For Children” and Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family.
Hope For Children” UNCRC Policy Centre