Armenia becomes the 47th country to complete the procedure of  ratification of the "Lanzarote Convention" 

ArmInfo.Armenia became the 47th country to complete the ratification procedure for the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse ("Lanzarote Convention").

As reported by the CoE press service, Armenia's Permanent  Representative to the Council of Europe, Ambassador Paruyr  Hovhannisyan handed over the ratification instrument in the presence  of Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni. For Armenia,  the convention will enter into force on January 1, 2021.

Battaini-Dragoni said: "I welcome Armenia's ratification of the  Lanzarote Convention. This convention is a unique tool to help  prevent and combat one of the most atrocious crimes, which,  unfortunately, is still too widespread in our society."

It should be reminded that the National Assembly of Armenia on May 11  ratified the Council of Europe Convention "On the Protection of  Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse" (Lanzarote  Convention). The Convention is aimed at preventing sexual  exploitation and the use of sexual violence against children, as well  as protecting victims, organizing a proper investigation. It provides  for the introduction of criminal liability for the willful commission  of crimes against children. The document also provides for the  collection of DNA from persons who have committed such a crime in the  country, which will create a comprehensive data exchange system.  Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia Kristine Grigoryan previously  stated that in the first half of 2019, 209 criminal cases were  investigated in the country on crimes against children, of which 51  were related to crimes of a sexual nature. After ratifying this  convention, the country undertakes to take legal or other measures  that will provide protection in areas where there is close contact  with children.

To date, the Lanzarote Convention has been ratified by all member  states of the Council of Europe, with the exception of Ireland. In  addition, Tunisia has ratified it. According to Christel de Craim,  Chair of the Lanzarote Committee, which monitors the implementation  of the Convention, "The Lanzarote Convention is making a significant  difference by helping governments across Europe and beyond to work  together to combat sexual exploitation and abuse of children. Ireland  is the last missing piece of the mosaic in Europe>.

On the European continent, one in five children under the age of 18  is a victim of sexual violence. The Lanzarote Convention obliges  states to criminalize all sexual crimes against children, including  crimes committed on the Internet, in order to protect victims and  bring perpetrators to justice. In addition, countries must also  ensure, among other things, that the statute of limitations for  prosecuting sexual offenses against children is sufficient to allow  proceedings to be initiated after the victim has reached the age of  majority.