The 37th meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence (Lanzarote Convention) was held from 31 January to 2 February 2023.

The meeting discussed the monitoring and implementation of the Convention, good practices, as well as measures to prevent violence and exploitation of children through media.

During the meeting, presentations were made on studies and reports conducted by  "Europol", "ECPAT", "Hope For Children", "Inhope", "Missing Children Europe", "Save the Children" and other international organisations. The Committee's recommendations for the countries were also discussed.

At the meeting Azerbaijan was represented by Jeyran Rakhmatullayeva, Chief of Staff of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs.

In her speech she noted that the "Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Children 2020-2030" and the "Action Plan" arising from it also provides activities related to the implementation of the Lanzarote Convention. 

She mentioned that in order to bring the national legislation in line with the Convention, on 1 February 2023 the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan approved a law providing for amendments to 4 codes and 6 laws.

The Committee of Parties welcomed the efforts of Azerbaijan as a partner state in the implementation of the Convention and highly valued the adopted law.

The meeting continued with the adoption of addresses from States not party to the Convention that had taken the initiative and the presentation of a special programme run by international experts at Harvard University on the topic.