World gathers in Brazil to reinvigorate fight against sexual exploitation of children

Nearly 3,000 participants from over 125 countries are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to exchange lessons and experiences in the fight against child sexual exploitation, review progress, and reinforce commitments. This is the World Congress III, aiming to mobilize high-level government officials, experts, civil society, the media, the private sector, international organizations, and adolescents to move forward the global agenda to stop the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. The gathering kicked off on the 25th of November and will last for four days until the 28th.

“Sexual exploitation leaves children with psychological and at times physical scars, and diminishes their hopes of leading a life of dignity,” said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. “No country or region is immune, and there are no innocent bystanders.” 

Sexual exploitation is a violation of a child’s rights to care and protection. The Congress will look at various types of sexual exploitation of children, including sexual exploitation in the family, child marriage, sexual exploitation of child domestic laborers, the commercial sex industry, as well as child pornography and sexual exploitation of children in cyberspace. 

Predators continue to use new tools to target children, including cyberspace and new generation mobile phone technologies, and adults can prey on children in chat rooms and use the internet to post or download pornography.

Conveners of the Congress are the Government of Brazil, UNICEF, ECPAT, and the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Among the nearly 3,000 participants, over 100 countries are expected to send high level delegations.  Several hundred young people will also have an active role. The previous two Congresses took place in Stockholm (1996) and Yokohama (2001).

This congress is held because more than a decade after Stockholm, many studies - including the recent ‘UN Study on Violence Against Children’ - indicate that the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents is pervasive. These sources provide evidence of growing criminal activity related to the trafficking of children for sexual purposes, exploitation by tourists and travelers, the proliferation of child abuse imagery and internet-related crimes. The sexual exploitation of children and adolescents is fueled by national and international demand, which threatens children and adolescents of all ages, in every corner of the world. The First World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children took place in Stockholm, Sweden in 1996, resulting in the ‘Stockholm Declaration and Agenda for Action’ plan, which was adopted by 122 countries. This plan committed countries to develop strategies and plans of action with agreed-upon guidelines. In December 2001, the Second World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Children was held in Yokohama, Japan, resulting in the ‘Yokohama Global Commitment 2001.’ The Congress consolidated global partnerships and reinforced the global commitment to protect children from sexual exploitation.  A total of 161 countries have now signed the ‘Stockholm Declaration and Agenda for Action.’ 

Seven years after the last World Congress in Yokohama, Japan in 2001, which focused exclusively on commercial sexual exploitation of children, the Brazil Congress will also discuss strategies for combating non-commercial forms of child sexual exploitation, including the sexual exploitation of children in their homes and sexual exploitation by religious leaders, teachers, peacekeepers, and armed groups in war zones. 

“Sexual exploitation is the ultimate abuse of power,” said Veneman. “A couple of years ago, I met a 16-year-old girl in Rwanda who asked me a very direct question: ‘What are you going to do to stop the rapes?’ It is a question that we must answer collectively and with a renewed sense or urgency.” 

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