A Forum on children’s rights with the direct involvement of children from different European countries. It is the plan launched in Berlin today by the EU Commission and run jointly with the German presidency of the EU. The Forum brings together many players: delegates from the member states, the German presidency, the United Nations, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, Interpol, Unicef, national observers for children, defenders of children’s rights, civil experts. “I look with satisfaction at today’s Forum explains Franco Frattini, deputy president of the Executive -. Children and the future are entwined together. The young drive us to cope with the future and the problems of our society, from demographic challenges to crime, to climate change”. The Commissioner in charge of freedom, security and justice adds: “This first Forum will focus on pedo-pornography and paedophilia, which demand urgent action. From 1997 to 2005, the number of websites offering pedo-pornographic materials has increased by 1500%. The new technology presents new challenges: for example, how to guide and protect the young when it is them who know computer technology better than their parents”.
