Save the Children Newsletter. July 2011

It is estimated that one in five children in Europe experiences some form of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation and the risk has steadily been growing in recent years due to the frequent misuse of the information and communication technologies (ICT). It is therefore of crucial importance that as soon as possible all member states of the Council of Europe ratify the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, which, out of the countries in the region, onlySerbia did so far in May this year. In this issue, Professor Dr.Veronika Išpanovic writes about this topic. The Newsletter also includes: an interview with Ms. Mirsada Poturkovic, Director of the Center for Social Welfare of the Canton Sarajevo, highlighting the importance of inter-institutional cooperation to put a stop to forced child begging; an article on the protection from Internet-related sexual abuse; and an update on the programmes of support to abused and neglected children for the countries in the region.