Projet conjoint pour l’Elimination de l’exploitation sexuelle des mineurs et la Prévention, la détection et la prise en charge des victimes

forthcoming

The PEPS project aims to strengthen child protection systems against sexual exploitation in Belgium and France. It responds to alarming findings from frontline professionals and specialised child protection organisations, notably a 2023 study by DEI/ECPAT Belgium revealing the scope and severity of the phenomenon and the numerous studies realised by ECPAT France, highlighting the increasing scope of the phenomena, still very often approached in silos. The project addresses a specific form of violence – child sexual exploitation – that remains poorly recognised and insufficiently integrated into child protection responses. PEPS promotes systemic change by enhancing intersectoral cooperation between professionals from different backgrounds and both countries, fostering good practice exchange and co-construction of concrete solutions. It contributes to the development of integrated child protection systems at national level and promotes transnational collaboration and knowledge transfer at the European level. PEPS includes structured capacity-building programmes for professionals, co-developed training modules addressing the “4 Ps” of the Lanzarote Convention - Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Promotion of cooperation - and a youth-driven awareness-raising component. In France, young people will co-create one awareness-raising tool; in Belgium, tailored awareness sessions will be held in youth care institutions. All activities are informed by intersectoral meetings that will produce concrete policy recommendations. All tools developed in the project, including a replicable training guide, an educational awareness handbook, and youth-created awareness material, will be disseminated. Targeted advocacy activities at Belgian, French, and EU levels will build on these recommendations to influence policies and reinforce systemic change.