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Georgiy POPOV,

Director of the Research Institute of the National Academy of Public Prosecutor of Ukraine, Doctor of Law sciences

DIRECTIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COUNTERACTION TO CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND SEXUAL ABUSE BY USING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION MEANS

The article outlines ways to increase the effectiveness of counteraction to child sexual exploitation and abuse by using electronic communication means in the context of law enforcement activities, as well as the content of measures to optimize the protection of children’s rights and freedoms in this area.

It is needs to include into curriculum of the National Prosecution Academy of Ukraine (at the Initial training institute, who prepares candidates for the post of prosecutor, and the Continue training institute of prosecutors) special training course.

 The course should include next topics: the notion and content of child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse by using electronic communications means; international and national legal acts; the system of international and national institutions and organizations whose activities are related to the prevention and counteraction of the offense in this area; monitoring and information analysis on the presence of signs of crime in the given area; qualification of acts containing signs of a crime on the specified facts; investigative (wanted) and secret investigative (wanted) actions; evidence analysis; managing by pre-trial investigation; features of interrogation of children victims of violence committed by using electronic systems; public prosecution in cases of the specified category.

In addition to specialized programs taught directly at educational institutions it is considered expedient to conduct joint, interagency, training (seminars, round tables, etc.) involving investigators, prosecutors and judges. Joint training will allow the participants in the specified categories to form the same vision of the problem, the existing practice of combating violent crimes against children through the use of electronic communication and digital systems.

Author identifies the following directions for increasing the effectiveness of counteraction to child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse by using electronic communication means: raising awareness of parents and children, studying foreign experience and adapting it to national needs, expanding cooperation with international governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, developing and introducing specialized courses for professionals, who are responsible for preventing and combating to the specified categories of offenses.

Key words: children’s rights and freedoms, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, electronic systems, means of communication.

References

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Cybercrime Convention of 23.11.2001 URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/994_575. [ukr.]

Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Assault and Sexual Exploitation (CETS No. 201) of 25.10.2007 URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/994_927. [ukr.]

CM / Rec Recommendation (2018) 7 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the principles of respect, protection and enforcement of the rights of the child in the digital environment of 04.07.2018. URL: https://mvs.gov.ua/upload/file/rekomendac_ya_schodo_zahistu_d_tey_u_cifrovomu_seredovisch_2018.pdf. [ukr.]

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Towards a Global Indicator on Unidentified Victims in Child Sexual Exploitation Material: Technical report. - February 2018 URL: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/9365/file/Technical%20report%20-%20Towards%20a%20Global%20Indicator%20on%20Unidentified%20Victims%20in%20Child%20Sexual Exploration% 20Material.% 20February% 202018.pdf [engl.]

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ECPAT international strategic framework JULY 2018 - JUNE 2021 URL: Roadmap towards ending sexual exploitation of children https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ECPAT-STRATEGIC-FRAMEWORK-2018- 2021-ENGLISH.pdf. [engl.]

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