Thus, it could be problematic to limit the scope to the specific problem of commercial sexual exploitation since trafficking, as demonstrated, can exist for different reasons. Trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and forced labor or even for illegal adoption are harmful activities and constitute contemporary forms of slavery. Any new legislative activity should be closely linked with other international conventions. It is important to ensure that any new legal instrument not only enhances existing standards, but also that it complements and reinforces the human rights obligations contracted by States in relation to individuals under their jurisdiction, particularly children and women, ensuring that they are fully observed by countries of origin, transit and destination.
In addition, one of the major goals is to promote and reinforce
cooperation among Member States that they may deal effectively
with the various aspects of prevention and suppression of trafficking in
persons for sexual exploitation. The criminal aspects cannot be
separated from the other important aspects, including the prevention of
trafficking and the protection of victims. In this area, it is essential to
ensure that the child victim is not criminalised and to consider adequate
programmes intended to promote the child's physical recovery and
social reintegration, as well as adequate compensation.
It is also vital to ensure that child victims of sexual trafficking
have access to assistance that meets their needs, such as legal aid,
protection, secure housing, economic assistance, counseling, health and
social services, physical and psychological recovery services. Special
assistance is especially important for those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Emphasis should be placed upon family and community based
rehabilitation or placement in foster families rather than
institutionalisation.
In view of the transnational dimension of these activities,
close cooperation between national policies and national judicial
authorities become of decisive relevance to ensure the effective
prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators or to ensure their
extradition, as appropriate, as well as the necessary identification,
protection, return and reintegration of the child victim.
In conclusion, raising and keeping children on national and
international agendas is a major priority for UNICEF. Guided by the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, we are attempting to decrease
the risks of sexual abuse and exploitation. UNICEF's strategy for
combating child trafficking is focused on four main areas: raising
public awareness of the problem; providing economic support to
families; improving access to quality basic education; and advocating
for the rights of the child.
This has translated, for example, in a number of countries and
in cooperation with governments and NGOs, into numerous
programmes such as preventive education for girls and their families in
rural communities in northern Thailand and police training in Nepal; a
multi media campaign in Brazil to raise awareness; financial support
provided to NGO counseling services and community rehabilitation in
Philippines; and support to studies on child prostitution carried out by
local NGOs in Costa Rica. The country office has initiated a project to
design and disseminate intervention strategies and methodologies for
the prevention of child prostitution, the treatment of the child victims,
as well as monitoring.
Despite attempts, we have made few in roads into the
eradication of situations where children are used in sexual
activities including for profit making purposes. Why do such realities
remain to a large extent hidden? Why do they constitute a social taboo
and yet are persistently present and damaging for the lives of so many
children? And how can we improve our policies and programmes and
meaningfully translate our commitments into effective action?
There is certainly a long way to go before the values of equity,
solidarity, social justice and non-discrimination are fully upheld, before
all decisions are fully guided by the best interests of the child, before
children stop to be used as modern slavers, or simply ignored.
Together, we must find ways of ensuring that the sexual
exploitation of children is an issue which remains high on political and
policy agendas and is never again allowed to slip into the unspoken
world which has so protected abusers and "tolerators" until very
recently.
Thank you.