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Sexual Exploitation

“That’s what it takes to be a hero, a little gem of innocence inside you that makes you want to believe that there still exists a right and wrong, that decency will somehow triumph in the end” - Lise Hand

One of the most important campaigns that Free The Children is involved in is protecting children from sexual exploitation. Because of their special vulnerability children are easy targets for sexual exploitation. When you add to the mix the issue of poverty and a child’s wish to support his or her family, this vulnerability is increased many times over.
It is sad fact that thousands of vulnerable children every day are being forced into prostitution, being exploited through pornography and trafficked –bought and sold– for sexual purposes. All of these realities are common and prevalent both in developed and developing countries: no society is immune.

• Overview and quick facts
• What you need to know
• How you can help
• Great resources

Overview and quick facts

“That’s what it takes to be a hero, a little gem of innocence inside you that makes you want to believe that there still exists a right and wrong, that decency will somehow triumph in the end” -- Lise Hand
One of the most important campaigns that Free The Children is involved in is protecting children from sexual exploitation. Because of their special vulnerability children are easy targets for sexual exploitation. When you add to the mix the issue of poverty and a child’s wish to support his or her family, this vulnerability is increased many times over.
It is sad fact that thousands of vulnerable children every day are being forced into prostitution, being exploited through pornography and trafficked --bought and sold-- for sexual purposes. All of these realities are common and prevalent both in developed and developing countries, no society is immune.
Not soon enough are laws being passed to prevent and punish sexual offenders who commit sex crimes against children. Recent actions, such as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, have sought to be a starting point to end this continuing problem; much remains to be done.

A troubling and continuing challenge is the problem of “sex tourism”. Seeking vulnerable children, many sexual offenders travel outside their own countries to areas of the world where laws protecting children from sexual exploitation are ignored.

Free The Children has been successful in lobbying the Canadian and Italian governments to enact change to protect children from “sex tourism” through their respective legal systems. Two countries in a world of 193 is a small drop in the bucket. Ask your government what they are doing.

• Why should we care?
• Definitions: Children and sexual exploitation
• Quick facts

Why should we care?

“The silence often of pure innocence persuades when speaking fails.” –William Shakespeare
The commercial sexual exploitation of children is an atrocious and fundamental violation of children’s rights. Exploited through prostitution, pornography or sex trafficking, children suffer serious and long-term psychological damage. Lacking self-esteem and the developmental tools to take control of their own lives these children are at the mercy of ruthless individuals who care nothing for their wellbeing. Governments worldwide are doing very little to curb the rise of important and damaging trends such as “sex tourism” and child prostitution. Inaction by governments is unacceptable. Demand more from your elected leaders.
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Defining the sexual exploitation of children

Sexual exploitation “comprises sexual abuse by the adult and remuneration in cash or in kind to the child or to a third person or persons. The child is treated as a sexual object and as a commercial object. The commercial sexual exploitation of children constitutes a form of coercion and violence against children, and amounts to forced labour and a contemporary form of slavery.”
–The Declaration and Action for Agenda of the World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, 1996.
There are 3 main ways children are sexually exploited
• They are forced into prostitution
• They are exploited through pornography
• They are trafficked for sexual purposes
• Other forms of sexual exploitation of children include sex tourism and early marriages (the marriage of children under the age of 18)
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Quick facts

• The commercial sexual exploitation of children is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar industry, drawing in over 1 million children each year worldwide
• Most of the children exploited in the sex trade are between the ages of 13 and 18, although there is also evidence of children younger than 5 being sexually exploited
• "Sex tourism" has been documented in Southeast Asia, North America and Eastern Europe.
• A large portion of child prostitutes catch sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), are forced to have abortions, and suffer serious psychological trauma
• Many circumstances, such as poverty, lack of education, and parental pressure, force children into the sex industry
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What you need to know!

Background Information

“Do you hear the children weeping, O my brothers, ere the sorrow comes with years? They are leaning their young heads against their mothers, and that cannot stop their tears.” –Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Find out more about the sexual exploitation of children. Here is some useful background information to get you up to speed on the issue.

• The Optional Protocol
• Around the world

The Optional Protocol

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

The Optional Protocol entered into force in January 2002 and was aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation. In this agreement, states agree to prohibit child prostitution, the sale of children, and child pornography.

To access the document and for further information visit this website: www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/dopchild.htm.
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Around the world

Asia

• Asia is the worst affected area of child prostitution where one million children are sexually exploited
• In India, it is estimated that 30,000 children are in the sex trade
• In Thailand, between 80,000 and 800,000 children are in the sex trade
• Approximately 30% of the 185,000 prostitutes in Vietnam are thought to be under the age of 16
• One study found that 60 to 70% of child prostitutes in Thailand are HIV positive

Africa

• In Africa, sexual exploitation of children is on the rise over the whole continent
• In South Africa, of the country's 40 million people, 70,000 women and girls are believed to be working in the sex trade
• Young boys are often recruited into the armed forces not only to fight, but also to sexually service the soldiers

North America

• A recent survey indicated that an estimated 5,000 children are involved in prostitution, pornography, and “sex tourism” in Mexico. Most are street children

South and Central America

• Approximately 25,400 children are engaged in prostitution in the Dominican Republic
• In Bogotá alone, the capital of Colombia, 3,000 children are sexually exploited as prostitutes
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How you can help

Speak out!

Here are some ideas of how you can help meet the challenge and tackle this issue.
What we have accomplished
Free The Children’s advocacy campaign in the area of commercial sexual exploitation of children has been very successful. Free The Children was instrumental in helping to pressure the governments of Canada, Mexico and Italy to make changes to their respective criminal codes to more successfully prosecute those who sexually exploit children.
Now, under Canadian and Italian law, there are strict criminal repercussions for Canadian and Italian nationals who travel overseas to exploit children for sexual purposes. This example proves that young people, if given the chance, can be a powerful force for change.
What you can do to help
The commercial sexual exploitation of children is a grave violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and must be stopped.
• Write letters: Let the tourist industry know how you feel about this issue. Write a letter to the tourism industry pressuring it to adopt self-regulatory measures and professional codes of conduct
• Raise Awareness: Conduct research, raise awareness and educate your family, friends and neighbours on the issue
• Join campaigns: Non-governmental organizations and child rights campaigners, such as ECPAT, are advocating for changes in laws and policies and working to assist child victims with recovery and reintegration into society. They need your help!
• Advocate and Lobby: Pressure your government to develop and enforce laws, policies and programs to combat commercial sexual exploitation of children
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Great resources

The following organizations are active in combating the sexual exploitation of children and have many important documents and helpful research materials.