Hungary Sexual abuse and incest : Every sixth child affected

November 29, 2011

Comment: The Hungarian article on the website of ‘Gyerekszemle’ reports on the findings of a status report on child sexual exploitation and child abuse in Hungary and three other countries in the region, conducted by the project, Pandora’s Box. According to the report 17% of primary school students have experienced either sexual exploitation or abuse, 30% of them know someone who became victim of child sexual exploitation.

The article points out that, up until now there was a lack of precise information on the sexual maltreatment of children in the region (Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia), that is the reason why it was necessary to create a program. Experts warned that low number of the cases become known by the authorities, although these crimes could cause long term consequences, they may haunt the victims throughout their whole lives.

In order to place some changes, experts formulated recommendations. The development of a binding protocol is urged, in order to improve the effectiveness of the child protection referral system. The article stresses that the experts were positive about the changes of recent months: the move towards child friendly justice and investigation rooms, and that the European Parliament adopted a draft directive on combatting child sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child pornography.

According to the press release “further cooperation, political decisions, harmonization of department politics and the power of the public are needed”.

Comment: Rita Savai, Regional Office for Central and South Eastern Europe, Terre des hommes- Child Relief