By the late 1980s, sexual exploitation of children was a recognized problem in Asia. A research project on commercial child sex abuse in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Thailand culminated in a consultation in Thailand in 1990 attended by children’s rights activists. The participants formed a campaign to abolish child prostitution, first in Asian tourism and then perhaps beyond that. ECPAT, initially called End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism, was created.
ECPAT’s strategy has been to work on 1) legislation and enforcement, 2) public education and awareness raising, 3) building partnerships with NGOs and industry, and 4) raising the political profile of sexually exploited children.
In 1996, the Swedish government hosted the First World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, co-sponsored by ECPAT. That year ECPAT expanded the scope of its campaign to include sexually exploited children all over the world. The Second World Congress, hosted by the government of Japan, will take place in December.
Learning Objectives: Learning objectives: Participants will understand how the problem of prostitution of children became an issue of international concern; and will learn what international work is going forward to end it.
Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.