“Kids understand how other kids hurt”: Children and adolescents speak out about sexual exploitation


Posted on 11-24-2009	Translate this page

World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents was held in Rio de Janeiro on November 25-28, 2008. The Congress is an inter-governmental event hosted by the Government of Brazil and co-organised by UNICEF and ECPAT, with the participation of a broad range of governmental representatives, civil society organisations, researchers and institutions, the private sector, and children and young people.

The central theme of the World Congress III was: “The guarantee of the Rights of Children and Adolescents and their Protection against Sexual Exploitation – a Systemic Approach.”

Its objectives were:
• analyse the new challenges and dimensions of sexual exploitation in present times;
• identify advances and gaps in the legal framework and in accountability;
• share experiences on the implementation of cross-sector policies to fight sexual exploitation of children and adolescents;
• design possible strategies and goals that can be agreed in international cooperation.

Young people aged 10–21 from Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America told stories of how they have dealt with and are already engaged in combating sexual abuse and exploitation in their communities. Download the report in English and Spanish