Child Prostitution
Protection from sexual abuse and exploitation
"Every child has the right of protection from commercial and sexual exploitation", this is the basic principle of the association "ECPAT Deutschland". The association is a nation-wide network of 28 institutions and groups. It is committed to ensuring the implementation of the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as to pointing out the causes of exploitation and demanding that all violations are prosecuted. Kindernothilfe is a member, working particularly at a political level to achieve greater protection for children.
Project for girls in Brazil. Picture: Christoph Engel
Every year, at least two million children are the victims of sexual exploitation. They are abducted, sold, held prisoners in brothels and raped. More and more countries have become holiday destinations for travellers who sexually abuse children without having to fear prosecution. One of the main causes of this is the economic and social problems of many countries. Poverty and a lack of school education force many children to sell their bodies - also to affluent travellers. Not only sex tourism, but also abuse by family members and numerous rapes committed in armed conflicts have dreadful consequences. Since 1949 rape committed in war time is considered an offence under international law.
The UN-Convention (article 34)
"States Parties undertake to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. For these purposes, States Parties shall in particular take all appropriate national, bilateral and multilateral measures to prevent:
(a) The inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity;
(b) The exploitative use of children in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices;
(c) The exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials."
All rights reserve. Disclaimers.