Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – With over 137 official Government delegations from all regions of the world participating in the World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children (WCIII), ECPAT International expects States to strengthen their actions to protect children, including addressing the demand that fuels sexual exploitation of children.
The WCIII will start on 25 November, with 3000 participants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for three days of intense talks intended to formulate concrete, time-bound goals to end the sexual exploitation of children. ECPAT wants States to increase public education to foster a global environment of zero tolerance, where individuals are compelled to take action to protect the right of children to live free from sexual exploitation. ECPAT also calls on Governments to end impunity and hold offenders accountable for their actions, and to improve treatment and rehabilitation measures to prevent repeat offenders.
‘Governments need to invest in resources to ensure that the measures agreed in this Congress will be realized,’ said Carmen Madriñán, Executive Director of ECPAT International, ‘It is also the responsibility of civil society, private sector, academia and others to support these efforts and monitor their implementation.’
The large State presence in Rio may signal growing global concern to address the problem and recognition by States of their responsibility to take the lead in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children just as the substantial representation of Human Rights institutions in the Congress also demonstrates greater effort to mainstream child rights agendas in international human rights instruments.
Private sector representatives – from the tourism sector to media and the information communication sector – will also be taking part in WCIII. In light of the growing evidence of violations against children that make use of the tools and ambit of the private sector, their participation demonstrates increased awareness that they must act to prevent and stop their businesses from being used to facilitate the exploitation of children for sex.
Children and adolescents will also play an integral part in WCIII, with around 300 children and adolescents participating, including those who are at-risk or are survivors of sexual exploitation and who are now directly involved in stopping this problem. Participating children and adolescents will share their knowledge on the issues and focus on solutions they have to offer, rather than their personal experiences of abuse and exploitation.
On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and almost two decades since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the WCIII aims to mobilise all countries to guarantee the rights of children and adolescents to be protected from sexual exploitation and abuse. Participants will examine new challenges and dimensions of sexual exploitation and set more targeted strategies and measures to address them. Participants will also discuss the adequacy of legal frameworks and law enforcement, greater international cooperation on key issues (including cross-border and inter-regional cooperation) and establish time-bound goals to promote and monitor progress on the themes addressed by the Congress.
For further information or to interview experts and youth participating in WCIII, contact:
Caroline Liou (English), Information & Communications Officer, ECPAT International, email carolinel@ecpat.net, mobile +55 21 9235 1608,
Renata Coccaro (Portuguese), ECPAT International, email renatacoccaro@hotmail.com, renatac@ecpat.net, mobile +55 21 9268 4653,
Maricruz Tabbia (Spanish), ECPAT International, email maricruzt@ecpat.net, mobile +55 21 9268 4573,
Notes to editors:
• ECPAT International is a global network of organisations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. The ECPAT movement encompasses activities at the local, national and international levels – from direct action at the grassroots level to national and international advocacy. We seek to encourage the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free and secure from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation. For more information, see www.ecpat.net. For further information on the following topics, see:
–WCIII Thematic papers on the commercial sexually exploitation of children:
–ECPAT’s work on the ground:
www.ecpat.net/Publications/WCIII_Good_Practices/Costa-Rica.pdf
www.ecpat.net/Publications/WCIII_Good_Practices/Thailand.pdf
www.ecpat.net/Publications/WCIII_Good_Practices/Ukraine.pdf
www.ecpat.net/Publications/WCIII_Good_Practices/YPP.pdf
–Legal reform:
www.ecpat.net/Publications/CSEC_Legal_Instruments.pdf
–Demand:
www.ecpat.net/Publications/Spanish/ECPAT_Mercancia_Sexual_2005.pdf (Spanish only)
–Country profiles/Global Monitoring reports:
• The World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents will be held in Rio de Janeiro from 25-28 November. More than 3000 participants comprised of governments, civil society, international organisations, private sector, and children and young people are expected to attend this global forum convened to map out the actions that have to be taken to combat the sexual exploitation of children. For more information, see www.ecpat.net/worldcongressIII.
