Children deserve more than normal protection - Simon Busuttil

New law will make tougher rules on the crime of sexual exploitation and abuse of children across the EU.

Addressing a plenary debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on a new EU law on the protection of children from sexual exploitation, Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil said that children deserved special protection because they are a vulnerable group.

The new law will make tougher rules on the crime of sexual exploitation and abuse of children across the EU. According to Busuttil the new law was filling a gaping vacuum that needed to be filled.

Simon Busuttil also expressed concern about new risks of abuse that children are today exposed to. One of them is the phishing phenomenon, a way of attempting to acquire information such as usernames and passwords by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in electronic communications.

“Today we are sending a clear message that child abuse is not tolerated in Europe. This new law, which will shortly be voted upon, will provide the necessary protective tools for children.”

The law also penalises even more strongly crimes committed by people who, as guardians of children, abuse of their position of trust. Children with a disability are singled out for special protection.

Welcoming the new law, Busuttil said that he will be supporting it with his vote in Parliament adding that, as a father of two children he was proud to do so.