ATHENS – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke about the National Action Plan to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, during a joint session of all relevant parliamentary committees held on Wednesday.

He noted that the abuse of minors, especially sexual abuse, was emerging as a social threat but stressed that the National Plan drafted to address this was not a rushed reaction to the recent shocking headlines but a methodical approach to an ongoing and sensitive challenge.

The prime minister said this was a problem with both an international dimension and hidden aspects, citing a Council of Europe warning that one in five children can fall prey to some form of exploitation.

Participants in the joint session included MPs on the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, the Standing Committee on Public Administration, the Standing Committee on Public Order and Justice, the Standing Committee on Social Affairs and the Special Standing Committee on Equality, Youth and Human Rights.