(Brussels) The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee has today approved legislative changes “to improve EU countries’ capacity to fight child sexual abuse effectively”. Updating the EU-wide definitions of the crimes linked to child sexual abuse, the proposal endorsed by MEPs also adapts them to new technologies. “The aim is to improve cooperation between national authorities on investigations and prosecutions and on victim support”. Rapporteur Jeroen Lenaers (MEP from the Netherlands) explained: “We need to make sure our laws to fight child sexual abuse are up to date and that we criminalise new phenomena, including so-called ‘instruction manuals’ that facilitate abuse, livestreamed abuse and deep-fake material. We also want tougher punishments and more mechanisms for reporting abuse. Because it often takes decades for victims to come forward, we need to abolish the limitation periods for these crimes. We owe it to victims to support them properly through the legal process and ensure that justice is done”. The Civil Liberties Committee adopted the draft position by 57 votes in favour, 0 against and 0 abstentions. Parliament will debate and vote on this position in plenary during its 16-19 June session, after which negotiations with Council on the final form of the law can begin.