CEPOL, Europol and INTERPOL join forces to enhance capacity in combatting Child Sexual Exploitation online

According to the Internet Watch Foundation, more than 62% of all child sexual abuse webpages actioned by them in 2024 were traced to hosting services in EU Member States. 

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) online, including the production and dissemination of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and the solicitation of children, continues to be one of the most pressing criminal threats facing the European Union. As such, it has a prominent role within the new EMPACT cycle 2026-2029. Despite sustained efforts at EU and national level, the scale and evolving nature of CSE in the digital environment still challenge law enforcement authorities across EU Member States. Strengthening the capacity of law enforcement officials to detect and identify victims of this heinous crime is of critical importance to ensure operational results. 

Understanding this need, CEPOL has been organising a flagship training activity on Victim identification in the area of CSE in cooperation with Europol and INTERPOL. First delivered in 2016, this training activity aims to enhance cooperation between law enforcement institutions from EU Member States, Associate and Candidate countries in the identification of child victims of sexual exploitation. Also, it aspires to create and improve skills of specialised law enforcement officials in the task of victim identification at a national and international level.

For this year’s edition, 22 law enforcement officials from 19 EU MS working in the field of online child sexual exploitation and abuse participated in the activity which took place at CEPOL’s HQ in Budapest from 9 to 20 March 2026. Seven expert law enforcement trainers shared their specialised knowledge and experiences, answered questions and motivated our learners to further intensify their efforts in identifying and safeguarding child victims. The course included detailed information sessions, group work and real case studies covering a broad spectrum of theoretical and practical aspects in pertinent areas such as image analysis, AI and OSINT. Recognising the significant psychological strain experienced by officers investigating child sexual abuse cases, a dedicated session focused on their well-being, equipping them with strategies to strengthen their resilience and apply effective coping mechanisms in dealing with the distressing and traumatic material encountered in their daily work.