The fight against child sexual abuse is a priority for the EU. The EU strategy for the period 2020-2025 sets out a comprehensive response to the growing threat of child sexual abuse both offline and online, by improving prevention, investigation, and assistance to victims.

The EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse includes 8 initiatives to put in place a strong legal framework for the protection of children and facilitate a coordinated approach across the many actors involved in protecting and supporting children.

The 8 initiatives aim to:

• ensure complete implementation of the current rules (particularly Directive 2011/93/EU on combating sexual abuse and exploitation of children)
• ensure that EU laws enable an effective response
• identify legislative gaps, best practices and priority actions
• strengthen the law enforcement efforts at national and EU level
• enable EU countries to better protect children through prevention
• establish a European centre to prevent and counter child sexual abuse
• galvanise industry efforts to ensure the protection of children in their products
• improve protection of children globally through multi-stakeholder cooperation

The Commission will ensure that the EU has the right legal framework to protect children. On 11 May 2022, the Commission proposed new rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. Where needed, the Commission will propose further new legislation. The Commission will also support national police forces to keep up with technological developments.

The strategy also sets out initiatives to boost coordination, including a prevention network for practitioners and researchers, examining the possibility to create a European Centre to prevent and counter child sexual abuse, cooperating with industry through the EU Internet Forum and supporting the WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online.