14508/09 ADD 1 PL/vk 1 DG G COUNCIL OF THE ... - Europa

describe measures aimed at children in general (sometimes also emphasising the principle of non-
discrimination), and a further four reports describe gender-neutral measures supplemented by some
measure targeting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Thus only seven reports to the UNECE
contain sections that describe in any detail measures – in addition to efforts to combat FGM –
explicitly aimed at girl children. One observation is that girl-specific information tends to occur
when the Member States' reports focus on ethnic minority children, while measures targeting
children in general are often discussed in gender-neutral terms.
Two issues clearly placed on the Members States' political agendas and the issues most frequently
discussed by the Member States' reports is FGM and violence against children. In the case of FGM,
eight reports include measures such as national plans for action (AT in 2008, PT in 2009) and legal
reforms (UK in 2003, LU in 2008), sometimes as part of their description of measures targeting
violence against women (ES). When it comes to violence, several other forms of violence – in
addition to FGM – are addressed. One is forced marriage and in the period 2004-2009 at least five
MS introduced laws against this form of violence, and in at least one other MS such a reform is
being discussed at the moment. The reporting to the UNECE also contains a few examples where
violence in the name of honour is discussed.
The most frequently recurring form of violence against children in the reporting is sexual violence,
either as prostitution and/or trafficking or in relation to the internet (e.g. net security or grooming).
The internet is a forum where children in general as well as girls specifically can get a voice on
their own terms. But the sexual exploitation of children through the internet is clearly a major
concern within the MS. As indicated by the section above, most countries that report progress in
this area do not explicitly discuss these measures as intended to improve the situation of girl
children in particular. One exception to this pattern is the report from Spain, which, amongst other
things, quotes statistics indicating that almost nine out of ten victims of trafficking are girls.
14508/09 ADD 1 PL/vk 128
ANNEX DG G EN