Cyprus supports stronger EU legal framework against child exploitation

Cypriot Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis has welcomed the initiative of the Commission to strengthen the legal framework concerning child pornography and the sexual exploitation of children, as well as combating the trafficking of persons and the protection of the victims.

He also noted that in 2007 Cyprus passed comprehensive legislation to combat the trafficking of persons and the sexual exploitation of children.

Sylikiotis was speaking in Luxembourg on Monday at the EU Council of Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs, which discussed the amendment of two framework decisions, the first concerning child pornography and the sexual exploitation of children and the second concerning combating the trafficking of persons and the protection of the victims.

Addressing the Council meeting, Sylikiotis said the previous framework decisions, which have now been amended, have already been incorporated into the national law, along with the Council of Europe convention on combating the trafficking of persons.

He said priority is given to measures to prevent the phenomenon and to protect the victims.

During the discussion of the proposed Directive, which establishes a uniform procedure for issuing residence and work permits to third country citizens, as well as a common list of rights, Sylikiotis supported the proposal of the Czech presidency and pointed out the necessity for the adoption of the Directive the soonest possible.