Practical approach to addressing the sale and sexual exploitation of children

Issues

Despite a wealth of international and regional laws and strategies, the scourge of sale and sexual exploitation persists. Sale of children for the purpose of child marriage is rooted in gender inequality and is exacerbated by poverty, insecurity and conflict. Although progress had been made over the past years to end child marriage, the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic have jeopardized the progress and intensified the risks.

Sexual exploitation of children in prostitution continue across the globe despite the numerous laws that criminalize practices. The sexual exploitation of children in the context of travel and tourism including by means of voluntourism, orphanage tourism and major sporting events are areas where offenders access and exploit children.

In the online context, abuse, exploitation and sexual violence against children are increasingly committed through or facilitated by the fast-paced ICTs, putting a strain on legal, political and law enforcement efforts to protect children and has called into question the adequacy of existing tools.

The report and the checklist

The Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material, presented a report (A/HRC/49/51) at the 49th session of the Human Rights Council session, in 2022, on the practical approach to addressing the sale and sexual exploitation.

For the preparation of the report, the Special Rapporteur sent out a questionnaire to Member States, civil society, and other stakeholders.

The report was presented in the context of prevention, protection and rehabilitation services, together with a checklist for States and other stakeholders to use as a user-friendly tool in their work to prevent and protect children from the forms of sale and sexual exploitation highlighted in the report as well as provide adequate services to child victims and survivors.

The report included several recommendations for States and other stakeholders to consider.

To access the report, checklist and recommendations, and a video of the Special Rapporteur discussing the report, view the report page