Q:
A:
Serbia signs Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Lanzarote,
25 October 2007
Serbian Minister of Justice Dusan Petrovic said that today in Spain twenty-three Council of Europe member states signed the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
Petrovic, who is participating at the 28th Conference of the European Ministers of Justice in Lanzarote, told Beta news agency that this is an important international document.
The convention will enter into force once it has been ratified by signatory countries and will allow for the cases of children who are subject of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse to be prosecuted more efficiently, he said.
He also expressed expectation that Serbia will through ratification of this convention provide more efficient prosecution of perpetrators.
Petrovic said that expiry of statutory period in criminal investigation is a major problem in Serbia and it occurred even in some of the cases of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
He stressed that due to expiry of statutory period in such a case, he initiated a demand for dismissal of three Supreme Court judges, three judges and president of the Novi Sad District Court, and added that he is waiting for the decision of the Grand Personnel Council on this matter.
Petrovic said that he spoke at the opening of the conference in the capacity of a government minister who is presiding over the CoE Committee of Ministers.
The Minister said that the six month Serbian CoE presidency has shown that Serbia is a country which can participate in most complex international operations and is capable of launching very important initiatives in the area of human rights and freedom.
Petrovic said that Serbia had the opportunity at the conference to stress its role as part of European civilisation and its complete dedication to upholding values reflected in the European Convention on Human Rights, and readiness to implement the highest standards.
The convention will enter into force once it has been ratified by signatory countries and will allow for the cases of children who are subject of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse to be prosecuted more efficiently, he said.
He also expressed expectation that Serbia will through ratification of this convention provide more efficient prosecution of perpetrators.
Petrovic said that expiry of statutory period in criminal investigation is a major problem in Serbia and it occurred even in some of the cases of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
He stressed that due to expiry of statutory period in such a case, he initiated a demand for dismissal of three Supreme Court judges, three judges and president of the Novi Sad District Court, and added that he is waiting for the decision of the Grand Personnel Council on this matter.
Petrovic said that he spoke at the opening of the conference in the capacity of a government minister who is presiding over the CoE Committee of Ministers.
The Minister said that the six month Serbian CoE presidency has shown that Serbia is a country which can participate in most complex international operations and is capable of launching very important initiatives in the area of human rights and freedom.
Petrovic said that Serbia had the opportunity at the conference to stress its role as part of European civilisation and its complete dedication to upholding values reflected in the European Convention on Human Rights, and readiness to implement the highest standards.
-
Belgrade/New York, 9 April 2026Serbia remains committed to dialogue, peace, respect for international law
-
Belgrade, 8 April 2026Serbia remains firmly committed to strengthening cooperation in region
-
Belgrade, 7 April 2026Serbia’s infrastructure, economic development through partnership with China
-
Belgrade, 6 April 2026Anniversary of 1941 bombing of Belgrade marked
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Serbian Army remains committed to UNIFIL tasks
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Switzerland’s financial support for reform processes in Serbia
-
Belgrade, 30 March 2026Cooperation with Russia, Belarus in areas of mutual interest
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026World Bank support for implementation of priority energy projects
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026Continued cooperation with Germany on utility infrastructure projects
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Activities of state institutions for opening clusters 2 and 5 examined