The intense work carried out by Justice Initiative in recent months culminated on Wednesday 6 December with the handing over to the European Union (EU) authorities of signatures supporting the petition calling for a Europe and an internet #safeforkids. The more than 540,000 signatures were delivered at an event at the European Parliament in the presence of MEPs Hilde Vautmans and Catharina Rinzema, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
Survivors from all over Europe together with 40 partner organisations worked with Justice Initiative to bring the public’s demand for greater protection of children against sexual abuse to the attention of the European Union. The petition collected over half a million signatures in all EU countries, from Spain to Germany, from Greece to Romania, from Finland to Sweden, and more. The success of the petition shows that a large part of the public urgently wants more support for survivors and more protection for children against sexual abuse, especially online.
The official ceremony in the European Parliament building was preceded by a symbolic moment organized on the Jean Rey Square: several dozen people – survivors, members of child protection organizations, and citizens from all over Europe – surrounded Guido Fluri, initiator of the Justice Initiative, and held up with him an immense globe representing the earth.
According to Fluri, “The values on which Europe is founded include respect for human dignity, freedom, and equality; the rule of law; and respect for human rights. That’s why we ask: Do these values not apply to the internet, where children’s rights are violated brutally every day?”
The importance of European legislation was also underlined by MEP Hilde Vaultmans: “Hundreds of thousands of people, including survivors and child protection groups, have signed the petition. As representatives of the people, we have understood this signal. We have a mandate to protect the next generation.”
For her part, European Commissioner Ylva Johansson emphasized: “This is a decisive moment. The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union are deciding on the final text of the proposal. I urge you to listen to the silent majority, to listen to the survivors, and support my proposal, to protect children from the worst crime imaginable”.
The Spanish Presidency of the EU Council also joined the call for strong protection. Spanish Minister Fernando Grande Marlaska is firmly committed to seeking a workable compromise: “We are a bit closer to achieving this objective, with a legislative text currently under discussion, on which we are putting all our efforts”.
To the press release: Press Release (EN)
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