MEP Assita Kanko welcomed the vote in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs as a breakthrough in the fight against child abuse and exploitation.

Acting as ECR shadow rapporteur, Kanko played a key role in securing a tougher, more future-proof legal framework to protect children across Europe.

“Child abuse is an assault on the most vulnerable members of our society. It is our moral duty to protect them — not with fine words, but with strong laws that deter perpetrators and deliver justice for victims,”she said.

Thanks to Kanko’s efforts, the revised legislation now includes stronger penalties, an extended statute of limitations for victims, and the explicit criminalisation of new forms of abuse, such as livestreaming and deepfakes. It also covers the possession of ‘paedophile manuals’.

In addition, professionals working with children will be legally required to report suspected cases of abuse — an essential measure to break the silence that too often protects offenders.

“No child should be abandoned because the law is too weak, because perpetrators remain anonymous, or because no one dares to speak out,” said Kanko.

The committee vote paves the way for a plenary decision and, subsequently, negotiations with the European Commission and Council. Kanko made it clear that the ECR Group will continue to push for meaningful and enforceable legislation.

“This is not a symbolic step, but the beginning of a tough fight for the safety of children. In the upcoming negotiations, we will keep fighting for laws that target perpetrators and protect victims. There will be no compromise with indifference,” Kanko concluded.