OSCE holds regional training seminar in Lithuania to combat sexual abuse of children on the Internet

VILNIUS, 25 May 2011 – An OSCE-organized training seminar for cybercrime experts and law enforcement investigators on how to combat sexual abuse of children on the Internet began today in Vilnius.

The OSCE organized the three-day seminar in close co-operation with the Lithuanian Ombudsman for Children's Rights with support from the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry and the country's Parliament.

Participants from Moldova, the Republic of Belarus, Romania, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Lithuania will discuss how co-operation, co-ordination and information-sharing can help them better detect, investigate and prosecute sexual abuse of children on the Internet.

Participants will also analyze trends in sexual abuse of children and identify gaps in national legislation. In addition, they will share best practices in detecting sites with child abuse material and in identifying child victims.

“There is no way to ignore the serious personal damage to the child victims of this crime," said Knut Dreyer, the OSCE Senior Police Adviser. "Recent successful investigations in the EU have shown the depth of this problem. Perpetrators and profiteer networks use global technology and Internet anonymity to their benefit. This seminar fosters cross-border, regional and global co-operation, which has proven to be an effective response by authorities.”

The Lithuanian Ombudsman for Children's Rights, Edita Ziobiene, added: “Sexual abuse of children on the Internet is a serious offence that cannot be stopped by state borders. The knowledge gained and personal links made during this seminar will benefit regional efforts to combat sexual abuse of children."

The seminar follows of an online workshop held earlier this year within the OSCE's Policing Online Information System.