OpenLobby.EU
Explore

Stichting ECPAT International

ECPAT International

ECPAT International is a global NGO network dedicated to ending the sexual exploitation of children.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Marina Kaljurand (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

14 Jan 2026 · Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material

Meeting with Isabel Wiseler-Lima (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Oct 2025 · Protection des enfants contre les abus et l’exploitation sexuels

Meeting with Hanna Gedin (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Oct 2025 · The European Child Sexual Abuse Legislation

Meeting with Heléne Fritzon (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Oct 2025 · Barns rättigheter

ECPAT Urges Stronger Tech Accountability in EU Cyberbullying Plan

24 Sept 2025
Topic — The Commission is creating a harmonized strategy to tackle abusive online behaviors targeting minors.
Message — ECPAT demands tech companies take responsibility for systemic risks and harms on their platforms. They call for a child-centered definition of cyberbullying linked to existing EU criminal laws. The group also seeks better reporting mechanisms and psychological support for victims.12
Why — The proposal would secure more funding and influence for ECPAT in EU policy-making.3
Impact — Technology platforms face increased costs for mandatory audits and strict content moderation requirements.4
Read full response

ECPAT International Demands Enforceable EU Protections for Child Rights NGOs

5 Sept 2025
Topic — Consultation on an EU framework to support civil society and address shrinking civic space.
Message — The group requests a binding framework to protect child rights organisations and streamline cross-border operations. They demand multi-annual core funding and harmonised legal recognition for NGOs across all Member States. The Commission should also penalise countries that restrict civic space or harass activists.123
Why — Secure funding and legal safeguards would ensure long-term stability for child protection advocacy.45
Impact — Member States that restrict civic freedoms or target activists would face formal EU-level consequences.67
Read full response

Meeting with Magnus Brunner (Commissioner) and

4 Sept 2025 · Protection of children from child sexual abuse

Meeting with Hilde Vautmans (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

16 Jul 2025 · Child Sexual Abuse

Meeting with Marina Kaljurand (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

9 Apr 2025 · Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material

Meeting with Verena Mertens (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion)

18 Mar 2025 · CSAM

Meeting with Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Jan 2025 · Ochrona dzieci przed wykorzystywaniem seksualnym i niegodziwym traktowaniem w celach seksualnych

Meeting with Zala Tomašič (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur for opinion) and Eurochild AISBL

5 Nov 2024 · proposed Directive on Child Sexual Abuse

Meeting with Markéta Gregorová (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

15 Oct 2024 · ChatControl

Meeting with Hilde Vautmans (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Thorn

14 Oct 2024 · The fight against CSA

ECPAT International urges strict child safety standards for platforms

30 Sept 2024
Topic — The European Commission is drafting new safety guidelines for minors online.
Message — ECPAT International calls for platforms to involve children in designing safety tools and conduct impact assessments. They demand safety-by-design features like making microphones and cameras off-by-default.123
Why — Stronger regulations help the NGO fulfill its mission of protecting children.45
Impact — Tech firms must remove profitable addictive features and increase compliance spending.67
Read full response

Meeting with Saskia Bricmont (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Save the Children Europe and

13 Sept 2024 · Child sexual abuse directive

ECPAT International urges tougher reporting rules for online child safety

5 Sept 2024
Topic — The consultation defines standardized reporting templates for platforms detecting online child sexual abuse.
Message — ECPAT calls for mandatory reporting on AI-generated content and specific file types. They want clear definitions for grooming and sexual extortion to improve accuracy. The group also demands mandatory disclosure of reasons for user complaints.123
Why — Detailed reporting helps the organization track evolving offender trends and prevention opportunities.45
Impact — Tech platforms face increased costs and burdens from mandatory, granular reporting obligations.67
Read full response

ECPAT International urges EU to abolish statutes of limitation

21 May 2024
Topic — This consultation evaluates the effectiveness of EU laws against child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Message — ECPAT recommends abolishing the statute of limitations or extending it until victims reach age 51. They also call for aligning penalties for online and offline crimes and decriminalizing consensual activities between peers.123
Why — These changes would ensure more victims access justice and support regardless of their nationality.45
Impact — Perpetrators would face longer periods of legal liability and harsher penalties for online offenses.6
Read full response

ECPAT International urges swift extension of child safety rules

12 Feb 2024
Topic — The consultation addresses extending temporary rules for detecting online child sexual abuse material.
Message — ECPAT calls for extending the temporary rules for at least two years to ensure no lapse in protection. They urge policy-makers to prioritize a long-term Regulation that mandates detection across all platforms.12
Why — The extension prevents a protection gap that would hinder identifying child abuse material.34
Impact — Privacy advocates lose confidentiality as the proposal mandates monitoring end-to-end encrypted messages.5
Read full response

Meeting with Eero Heinäluoma (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Sept 2023 · CSAM

Meeting with Fabienne Keller (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Apr 2023 · Moderatrice de l’évènement Renew « Leave the Kids alone!” en lien avec la législation sur les abus sexuels des enfants en ligne, avec l’ONG Brave Movement, un représentant de l’OCRVP, et ECPAT international

Meeting with Paul Tang (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Google and

12 Jan 2023 · Closed door stakeholders meeting on Child Sexual Abuse Regulation with MEP Alex Agius Saliba and MEP Helene Fritzon

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Oct 2022 · CSAM

ECPAT International Urges Mandatory Detection of Online Child Abuse

12 Sept 2022
Topic — The European Commission proposal seeks to prevent and combat online child sexual abuse.
Message — ECPAT calls for mandatory safe technologies to detect all forms of abuse, including grooming. Every child's best interests must be the primary consideration throughout the Regulation. A clear legal framework is needed to allow companies to continue voluntary detection efforts.123
Why — The group would secure enhanced legal protections and support services for abuse victims globally.4
Impact — Online service providers would face more burdensome reporting rules and tighter removal deadlines.5
Read full response

Meeting with Saskia Bricmont (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Dec 2021 · Child trafficking

Response to Combating child sexual abuse

26 Oct 2021

ECPAT International welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the roadmap for the review of EU rules on combating child sexual abuse. As the world’s largest network solely focused on ending the sexual exploitation of children - an international organisation with 122 members in 104 countries - ECPAT has broad and deep understanding of the global dimensions of this significant societal problem. Through delivery of Project Beacon, a coordinated campaign of information and advocacy across the EU, ECPAT is directly engaged in advocacy to ensure children’s rights are prioritised in all key pieces of EU legislation, including but not limited to the regulation on a temporary derogation from provisions of Directive 2002/58/EC (ePrivacy Directive), the Digital Services Act, and legislation on the detection, removal and reporting of child sexual abuse online. Having reviewed the impact assessment on the Commission proposal to review Directive 2011/93/EU on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, ECPAT International supports Option 4 - New legislation on prosecuting offenders, protecting victims and preventing offences plus non-legislative measures. Further comments are provided in the attached document.
Read full response

Meeting with Lena Düpont (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

3 Feb 2021 · Child protection online