Children from around the world are speaking out against sexual exploitation and internet and video pornography, and are calling on authorities to better protect them and future generations from abuse on Universal Children's Day today.
The results of two years of focus groups involving more than 400 boys and girls on four continents clearly demonstrated that, despite efforts to tackle exploitation of many differing kinds, widespread sexual abuse is still causing misery to children worldwide, says Christian development agency Tearfund.
Young people in Thailand described how some parents have taken their children to be prostituted, naming the hotels where such things happen.
“The hotel owner is the agent. Both Thai people and foreigners buy sex. In some cases, a 60-year-old man pays for sex with boys as young as five years old. These men are wealthy. The parents take their children to the hotel to do this.”
Some teachers put pressure on children too. Participants reported how boys were abused by a group leader in a school for detained children.
Children from Vietnam explained, “Some teachers could take advantage of bad grades for sexual abuse. For example, if a child lets a teacher abuse him or her, he or she can get a better grade.”
Some of the focus group children will be travelling to Brazil next week to tell delegates at the Third World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents that much more needs to be done to protect them, their peers and future generations.
World Vision Policy Officer Ruthi Hoffman Hanchett said, “These are a diverse group of young people from Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America all with stories to tell about how they have dealt with and are engaged in combating sexual abuse and exploitation of children and adolescents in their communities.
“They will be bringing stories, images and recommendations about ending sexual abuse from children in their own countries, and will be asking decision-makers to turn promises into concrete actions. Many of their requests will relate to child sex tourism, trafficking and the prostitution of children. The links between domestic sexual abuse and commercial sexual
exploitation such as trafficking and prostitution are of particular
concern.”
There is, however, also a growing concern among children about the impact of the internet, said World Vision. Children revealed they were worried about the ways pornography and new technologies are making them vulnerable to sexual exploitation. So they are calling on governments to censor web-based material.
“We desperately hope those attending the conference, particularly
government ministers, will listen to what the children have to say,” said Mrs Hoffman Hanchett.
“Children understand how other children are hurt, and they have recommendations and ideas about the solutions. Protecting
children from sexual abuse is everyone’s business and we pray that each delegate will take up the call to protect children from sexual exploitation, whether domestic or commercial.”
