EU to create paedophile register

The European commission has unveiled the EU’s first policy paper on children’s rights, including a Europe-wide crackdown on paedophiles.

The proposals aims to set a basis for the development of an “EU strategy on the rights of the child”.

European justice commissioner Franco Frattini regards the issue as an important one for the EU.

“It is clear that children’s rights are still far from being generally respected, even within the union,” he said.

“The EU, with its tradition and its legal and political commitments with regard to human rights, can bring essential and fundamental added value in this field.”

Proposals have been fast-tracked from next week to avoid a crowded Brussels agenda set to be dominated by EU fines on Microsoft.

Media headlines surrounding the murders of two Belgian girls may also be a factor, highlighting “the urgency of certain challenges” for the commission.

Frattini is calling for a European network of specialised police units tackling internet paedophiles to coordinate at the EU level.

“I think that a no tolerance policy is needed towards paedophilia,” he said.

The commission is preparing new proposals allowing EU police and law enforcement agencies to build Europe-wide databases of child sex offenders.

“We are preparing a comprehensive proposal… a system allowing member states to know about people convicted for criminal sex abuse offences,” Frattini said.

The commission – which has few powers in the rights area – will set initiatives aimed at pushing the issue into the heart of decision-making, both internal and external to the EU.

Socialist MEP Glenys Kinnock warned that “there must be no more toying with children’s rights”.

“Animals currently have more recognised rights in the EU than children,” she said.

“This is an absurd anomaly which I hope today’s proposals will help rectify. It’s time to recognise that children’s needs and rights deserve urgent, special and separate attention.”

“We must now make sure these proposals are actually put into action. There must be no more toying on the issue of children’s rights. We need tangible policies and programmes.”

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