European Conference “The sexual abuse of children, and paedophilia on the Internet”
2-3rd December 1999
In the framework of UNESCO’s programme concerning paedophilia on the Internet, the “Foundation for the Child and the Family” organised the European Conference entitled “The sexual abuse of children, and paedophilia on the Internet”. The Conference was held on 2nd -3rd December 1999 at Megaron, the Athens Concert Hall.
The Conference was attended by representatives of international and European governmental and non-governmental organisations and specialists from various areas such as justice, police, psychology, informatics, and others, aiming to examine the problem of the sexual abuse of children, child pornography and paedophilia on the Internet, through a review and assessment of the findings of recent research, as well as the means of coordinating human, technical and financial resources, in order to bring them to bear on these problems, and in order to protect children, with a particular emphasis on the European Mediterranean countries and those of the Balkans.
Speakers at the opening ceremony of the Conference were: Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, Mr. Raymond Kendall, Secretary-General of INTERPOL; Mrs. Ofelia Calcetas Santos, Special Correspondent; Mrs. Anne-Aymone Giscard d’Estaing, President of the “Fondation pour l’Enfance”; Mrs. Homayra Sellier, President of the UNESCO World Citizens’ Movement for the Protection of Innocence in Danger; Judge Andre Ruffo, President of the International Bureau for the Rights of Children.
Greece was represented by His Holiness Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece and Mr. Michalis Chrisochoides, Minister of Public Order.
Mrs. Rodi Kratsas, President of the “Women of Europe” Prize (Greece) moderated the conference.
The Conference was part of the contribution of the Foundation for the Child and the Family to the World Citizens’ Movement for the Protection of Innocence in Danger.
THE SUBJECTS OF THE CONFERENCE
- Reports from Balkan and Mediterranean European countries.
- International legislation and legal questions concerning the sexual abuse of children.
- The phenomenon of the sexual abuse of children and paedophilia.
- The results of research.
- The psychologist’s point of view.
- How pornography and paedophilia function on the Internet.
- Dangers and measures taken for the protection of children from paedophilia on the Internet.
- International police cooperation for the protection of children from paedophilia.
- Regional cooperation programmes.
- Education through the mass media, as one of the solutions.
- National Citizens’ Committees for the protection of Innocence in Danger.
INNOCENCE IN DANGER
“…the child must be protected against all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse…”(art. 34), United Nations Convention for the Rights of Children
World Citizens’ Movement for the Protection of Innocence in Danger.
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is also the United Nations body responsible for matters concerning the Internet.
UNESCO is promoting the Innocence in Danger initiative; the first truly international programme for education and safety on the Internet. The programme was designed to gather information and create networks between industries and citizens’ action committees, in order to ensure the legal access, the education, the protection of children, and their safety, and to provide parents with help in understanding the possibilities of the Internet, and how to supervise their children’s activities on the Internet.
Using the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Children as a guideline, the Innocence in Danger programme has the following aims :
- To create channels of communication and collaboration between professionals in the areas of Internet and Justice, specialists in the protection of children, personalities and political leaders, through the intermediary of national action committees.
- To heighten global public awareness of the need for drastic action against child pornography and paedophilia on the Internet, as well all forms of sexual abuse of children.
- To mobilise human and technical resources in order to provide support to enterprises and non-governmental organizations in their efforts to protect children and to safeguard their rights.
National Citizens’ Committees : Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Switzerland, U.K., U.S.A..
- 2011
- UNESCO Heads of States Forum
- There is HOPE!
- Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
- International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
- Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
- Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
- 2010
- Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
- The Global Forum against human trafficking.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
- Makistos smiles again!
- 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
- An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- International campaign supporting Greece.
- The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
- 2009
- Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
- Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
- Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference «Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the World» and the Cairo Declaration.
- International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
- Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
- 2008
- The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
- Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
- Universal call for the Climate Change.
- The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
- The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
- The “Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies” in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
- 2007
- 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- The Chart of Paris against cancer.
- The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
- Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
- Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
- International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Global Humanitarian Forum.
- Makistos smiles again.
- 2006
- Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
- Fundraising Dinner to support the “End Human Trafficking Now” global campaign.
- The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
- International Center for Peace Studies.
- Protecting youth from drugs.
- The Multicultural Children Centre “Athina” in Belgrade.
- 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
- 2005
- Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
- The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
- The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- 2004
- Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
- International Conference “Women in the Service of Peace” in Paris.
- International Conference “Women defending Peace” in Geneva.
- 2003
- 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
- Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
- Exhibition “The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon”, at UNESCO.
- The Mentor Awards.
- Awards to mothers.
- 2002
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
- Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
- The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
- 2001
- The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
- 2000
- A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
- The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
- The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
- 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
- Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
- 1999
- By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
- Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
- The Hague Appeal for Peace.
- International Conference “Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century” in Paris.
- Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
- By the side of the earthquake victims.
- International Conference “Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet”.
- 1998
- A three-point shot for a life.
- European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
- Family and the mass media.
- Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
- 1997
- International Conference “Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe”.
- By the side of the children of Xanthi.
- Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
- The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.