Honduras: Follow-up visit by UN expert on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

GENEVA / TEGUCIGALPA (15 April 2014) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Najat Maalla M’jid, will visit Honduras from 21 to 25 April to evaluate progress made since her first visit in 2012, and follow-up on her recommendations*.

“I will assess measures adopted by the Honduran authorities to protect children from sale and sexual exploitation. My visit also aims to identify obstacles to the fight against this phenomenon, and to provide assistance to overcome them,” said the independent expert charged by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, report and advice on the issue of sale and exploitation of children in the world.

The Special Rapporteur’s mandate includes violations and issues of concern such as sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, child pornography online, and the sale of children for illegal adoption.

“I will pay particular attention to the implementation of the recommendations I made during my first visit, between 30 August and 7 September 2012, regarding the adoption of legislation which is compliant with child rights treaties ratified by Honduras, the strengthening of child protection institutions, programmes and mechanisms, and the development of sustainable preventive measures,” Ms. Maalla M’jid said.

The human rights expert, who is visiting Honduras at the invitation of the Government, will also identify areas of technical assistance which will help the new authorities establish an overall strategic child protection framework.

During her five-day visit to Tegucigalpa, Ms. Maalla M’jid will hold discussions with Government officials responsible for preventing and combating the sale and sexual exploitation of children, civil society actors, private sector representatives, organisations assisting child victims, UN agencies and the donor community.

At the end of her visit on Friday 25 April, at 09h00, the Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference at the United Nations House in Tegucigalpa, Col. Palmira, República de Panamá Avenue.

The visit’s findings and recommendations will be presented in a comprehensive report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2015.

(*) Check the Special Rapporteur’s first report on Honduras: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/22/54/Add.2

Najat Maalla M’jid was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in May 2008 by the United Nations Human Rights Council. As Special Rapporteur, she is independent from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-sale-of-children

UN Human Rights, Country page – Honduras: http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/honduras

The Convention on the Rights of the Child: http://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child

The three Optional Protocols:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/optional-protocol-convention-rights-child-sale-children-child
http://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/optional-protocol-convention-rights-child-involvement-children
http://treaties.un.org/doc/source/signature/2012/CTC_4-11d.pdf

For further information and media inquiries, please contact:
In Tegucigalpa (during the visit): Mr. Efraín Pérez (+504 2220 1231 / efrain.perez@undp.org)
In Geneva (before and after the visit): Ms. Nekane Lavín (+41 22 917 94 02 / lavin@ohchr.org) or write to srsaleofchildren@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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