B4-0954, 0968, 0980 and 0990/97

Resolution on the protection of children and their rights

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,

- having regard to the European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights (Strasbourg, 25 January 1996),

- having regard to the declaration adopted in Stockholm (27-31 August 1996) on the commercial sexual exploitation of children,

- having regard to its resolutions of 12 December 1996 on measures to protect minors in the European Union ((OJ C 20, 20.1.1997, p. 170.)) and 6 November 1997 on the Commission communication on combating child sex tourism and the aide-mémoire on the European Union's contribution to reinforcing the prevention of the sexual abuse and exploitation of children ((Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 7.)),

- having regard to the International Conference on Child Labour organized by the Norwegian Government in conjunction with the International Labour Office and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) which took place in Oslo from 27 to 30 October 1997,

A. whereas 20 November 1997 is the 8th anniversary of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,

B. whereas more than 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are working throughout the world, and many children are required to carry out dangerous work under appalling conditions,

C. whereas children's rights have to be respected and preserved all over the world and whereas the European Union has a duty to help ensure that their rights are respected within its territory and in connection with its relations with third countries,

1. Calls on all Member States to apply in full the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;

2. Welcomes the outcome of the Oslo Conference and in particular the action programme to prevent and eliminate all forms of unacceptable child labour and, at the same time, to guarantee compulsory primary education;

3. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the implementation of the measures set out in this action programme;

4. Regrets the absence in the Amsterdam Treaty of a specific reference to the rights of the child and underlines the need to recognize the protection of children as a European Union priority, which should be included in all relevant European Union proposals and initiatives;

5. Condemns unreservedly the sexual exploitation of children, child abuse in any form, and the degradation of children as sexual objects reduced to the status of commodities; calls for a total ban on the production, trade in, transport and possession of material which constitutes an incitement to sexual abuse of children;

6. Welcomes the development of systems to lock out illegal and harmful content on the Internet; urges the Commission to work out a system for a European quality branding for Internet access providers, and to support international coordination in this area;

7. Calls on Member States to pursue vigorously the investigations into child abuse; calls on the Member States to adopt provisions for the criminal prosecution of tour operators who advertise sex tourism, as well as for users of this kind of service;

8. Calls on the Commission to declare 20 November of each year a European day for the protection of the rights of the child;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.