Malta has joined a global alliance that will increase cooperation in fighting online child sexual abuse.
The alliance aims at uniting decision-makers around the world to better identify and assist victims and prosecute perpetrators.
Participating countries will commit to pursue a number of goals, notably enhancing efforts to identify victims and ensure they receive help and protection.
They will also work to enhance efforts to investigate cases of online abuse, identify and prosecute offenders, increase children’s awareness of internet risks and reduce the availability of child abuse material online.
Countries can choose the appropriate action to take at national level to achieve these goals.
The alliance was officially launched last Wednesday by EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström and US Attorney General Eric Holder.
Justice Minister Chris Said recognised the need for this alliance in view of the ongoing technological and societal developments that have led abuse to going global.
Along with the 27 EU members and the US, alliance members include Albania, Australia, Cambodia, Croatia, Georgia, Ghana, Japan, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, the Philippines, Serbia, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam.