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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for sexual exploitation of children
4 results foundAuthor: Varrella, Andrea Title: ECPAT Country Overview: Italy Summary: A Parliamentary Republic and one of the world's biggest economies, Italy is home to over 60 million inhabitants, of whom 9,761,000 are children. The country has been affected in recent years by economic recession and increases in migration, which has aggravated the vulnerability to sexual exploitation of certain groups of children, in particular unaccompanied migrant minors. Minority children are also at greater risk of sexual exploitation due to ongoing discrimination and marginalisation in the country. The age of consent for both boys and girls, set at 14, is one of the lowest in Europe and causes further risk to children of sexual exploitation. Exploitation of children in prostitution is a known issue. Links to trafficking, particularly in the South of Italy, have been clearly established. Poverty remains a major risk factor for sexual exploitation of children (SEC), but cases (outlined in this report) demonstrate that anyone can be affected, irrespective of their background. Reportedly, self-generated live-streaming of sexually explicit content is on the rise among Italian youth, which has been identified as a way perpetrators access or convince children to create child sexual abuse material. Italy is a destination, transit and source country for children subjected to trafficking for sexual purposes, with the majority of identified victims coming from Nigeria, China and Eastern Europe. No clear estimates are available regarding the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, although Italy is traditionally considered as a country of origin for offenders (male and female). At a Glance There are no official studies on child, early and forced marriage in Italy, but estimates have evaluated the rate of child marriages (often celebrated only at community level rather than in law) in the shanty towns of Rome at 77% (including both boys and girls). Italy has ratified all the major international conventions and is part of various European and global initiatives. The 2013 ratification of the Lanzarote Convention has brought improvements to Italian legislation, including a comprehensive definition of 'child sexual abuse material' and the criminalisation of grooming of children under 16 years of age. Yet this has left contradictions in the law given the legal age of consent remains 14. Italy has some national policies on specific manifestations of SEC, but the overall plan on sexual exploitation and abuse of children is no longer in force and has not been updated. Moreover, there is little or no information regarding the implementation of these plans in previous years, so it remains hard to assess the effectiveness of policies and legislation. Specialised law enforcement agencies and investigative police units deal with SEC and child victims can claim compensation through three different channels (civil courts, criminal courts and state-managed compensation funds). There are no specific mechanisms to ensure children participation in SEC-related policies and plans. Details: Bangkok: ECPAT International, 2019. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2019 at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/ECO_Italy_FINAL_6February2019.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Italy URL: https://www.ecpat.org/country-reports/italy-2/eco_italy_final_6february2019/ Shelf Number: 155925 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Prostitution Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Child Victims Forced Marriage Italy Sexual Exploitation of Children |
Author: Baury, Chloe Title: ECPAT Country Overview: Cambodia Summary: The Kingdom of Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy located in the Greater Mekong Subregion. After decades of political instability and violence, the country has reached the lower middle-income status in 2015. However, a major part of the population, especially in the countryside, lives below the poverty line. Children (persons under the age of eighteen) represent around one third of the population and many of them, driven by poverty, engage in child labour, including sexual exploitation. In Cambodia, sexual exploitation of children (SEC) can take various forms. The exploitation of children in prostitution is prevalent all over the country and especially at touristic hotspots, and it affects boys as much as girls. However, the secretive and clandestine nature of this crime, whether it is 'establishment-based' or 'streetbased', makes accurate statistics on the number of child victims difficult to obtain. Low costs of travel, cheap prostitution and poverty make Cambodia a key destination for sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism. More specifically, 'orphanage tourism' is a growing trend affecting children living in residential care institutions and at high risk of being abused. Foreigners, although they are the most 'visible', are not the only child sex offenders. The majority of offenders are Cambodian or come from other Asian countries. In particular, they are the main demand for of the 'virgin trade', a big business that thrives due to cultural myths around young girls' virginity. Cambodia is also a source, transit and destination country for child victims of trafficking for sexual purposes. Children are trafficked to Thailand and Vietnam and from Vietnam to Cambodia. Indeed, Vietnamese children represent one third of the children engaged in prostitution in Cambodia. Online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) is also a growing concern. Mobile connections and Internet access have increased, and with them, the vulnerability to sexual exploitation enabled through digital technology. Finally, children in Cambodia are also subject to child early and forced marriages (CEFM), especially in the more rural areas, such as Rattinikiri and Mondulkiri, which can lead to sexual exploitation. To fight SEC, the Government of Cambodia has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC), as well as the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. At the national level, it has enacted the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of 2008 (TIPSE Law). The Law provides some comprehensive sets of definitions and penalties regarding the sexual exploitation of children in prostitution and the trafficking of children. It is complemented by the Cambodian Criminal Code of 2010. However, there remain several important gaps in the Law, especially regarding OCSE. Moreover, Cambodian law does not provide for any provisions defining or explicitly criminalising the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, but it has quite an exhaustive extraterritorial legislation and it applies the active and passive nationality principles. Cambodia is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional mechanism particularly active regarding the issue of SEC in the region. It has adopted the ASEAN Tourism Agreement in 2002, which addresses prevention of SECTT; specific Guidelines for the Protection of the Rights of Trafficked Children in 2007 and the Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) in 2015. It has set up several commissions, a regional Taskforce and a Children’s Forum to improve prevention of SEC, and has developed several programmes and plans of action within this framework. Cambodia also takes part in the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT), which promotes and strengthens regional cooperation against human trafficking, and in the Bali Process to raise awareness on the consequences of trafficking. Finally, Cambodia signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on cooperation for combating human trafficking with neighbouring countries. At the national level, the government established different committees and a National Council for Children in order to coordinate its efforts on fighting SEC. It has adopted several national plans of action and programmes, and cooperates with the NGO sector to implement them. However, NGOs still have limited input in the development of strategies to combat SEC despite their essential role and expertise. The Government of Cambodia, child rights NGOs, international organisations and the private sector have developed and implemented a number of preventive actions in Cambodia, especially against SECTT and trafficking of children for sexual exploitation. Activities include dissemination of and training on the OPSC, technical training for law enforcement officers, capacity building of service providers in local communities, awareness-raising and nationwide campaigns. However, despite an increasing number of initiatives, preventive measures remain inadequate and scattered: several manifestations of SEC are still not specifically targeted and underlying root causes leading to vulnerability to sexual exploitation are not sufficiently addressed. When it comes to protection measures, several challenges appear. The Government has developed several databases to gather information on sexual exploitation but they are focusing primarily on trafficking and are insufficiently accessible at provincial level. Law enforcement also lacks the financial resources and skills to conduct investigations, especially on CSAM/CSEM and OCSE. The CRC Committee also expressed its concern about the low prosecution and conviction rates and the high level of corruption. The Cambodian Justice system is evolving but it is not yet fully equipped to respond to the needs of children victims of SEC. There is no independent mechanism to receive and address complaints from children and no specific provision for child protection in the criminal justice process. The Law on Juveniles Justice mainly deals with children who are suspects of or accused of committing offenses, and addresses the case of child victims or witnesses only when it comes to privacy issues. NGOs once again play a very significant role in getting some children to go to court, by offering legal representation. The Ministry of Justice has issued several prakas to set better child-friendly courtrooms, using screens and TV-linked testimonies for example; but this equipment is barely used. Furthermore, in 2011 and 2015, the CRC Committee highlighted the absence of staterun recovery and reintegration programmes in Cambodia. Psychosocial rehabilitation services and shelters for child victims of sexual exploitation are mainly concentrated in the capital and run by NGOs. Efforts need to be put into increasing supporting services for male victims, as their abuse and needs are often misunderstood and they suffer from a lack of empathy. Specialist services and trainings addressing the needs of boys do exist and are primarily provided by NGOs, but countrywide coverage is lacking. Penalties for a SEC offence are stated in terms of both prison time and financial compensation for the victim. However, there is no legal way to enforce payment, and therefore no guarantee that the offender will indeed pay. Victims have to wait sometimes for years before receiving compensation or are given less than they should, due to the common practice of 'out-of-court settlements'. Compensation management is needed to make sure that the money directly benefits the child victim. Child participation is essential in the development of relevant policies regarding issues affecting their lives. The importance of ensuring meaningful child and youth participation has been recognised by ASEAN Member States, including Cambodia, in the Hanoi Declaration on the Enhancement of Welfare and Development of ASEAN Women and Children adopted in 2011. Furthermore, the ASEAN Children’s Forum (ACF) allows children to express their views and assert their rights. At the national level, the Cambodian National Council for Children has promoted child participation when implementing action plans. Efforts to ensure the participation of children and youth in policymaking are also on NGOs’ agendas. Details: Bangkok: ECPAT International, 2018. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2019 at: https://www.ecpat.org/country-reports/cambodia-2/ecpat-country-overview-cambodia/ Year: 2018 Country: Cambodia URL: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ECPAT-Country-Overview-Cambodia.pdf Shelf Number: 155927 Keywords: Cambodia Child Abuse and Neglect Child Prostitution Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Child Victims Forced Marriage Sexual Exploitation of Children |
Author: Thimanna, Sanchia Title: ECPAT Country Overview: Czechia Summary: Czechia is a central European country with a population of 10.7 million of which 1.8 million are children. Although a high-income country ranking 27th on the Human Development Index, poverty driven by socioeconomic inequality and ethnic discrimination continues to persist in Czechia. Children belonging to marginalized groups often live in excluded localities with substandard housing and drop out of school early to escape from discrimination entrenched in the education system. These factors contribute to making children highly vulnerable to sexual exploitation. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of exploitation of children in prostitution in Czechia, including those of very young children. High rates of Internet and mobile phone use among children in the country have facilitated online child sexual exploitation, by making it easier for perpetrators to establish contact with them. The sharing of self-generated sexual content among children is also a matter of growing concern. Czechia continues to be a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, with children comprising more than half of the identified victims of sale and trafficking for sexual purposes. The risk of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism is of grave importance, particularly in light of the exponential increase in the number travellers and tourists in the country. An emerging trend of cross-border trafficking for the purpose of fraudulent marriages has also put children in Czechia at risk. The country has ratified the main legal instruments to combat the sexual exploitation of children (SEC), including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, as well as the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Protocol). Czechia is also part of a number of international and regional commitments addressing SEC, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online. However, amendments to the national legislation are yet to be made for the definitions of all SEC-related offences to align with the ratified instruments and commitments. Further, loopholes in the legal framework need to be fixed in order to protect children above 15 years of age. Czechia does not have a national strategy or coordination body specifically addressing SEC. Some aspects of SEC are addressed within broader national strategies by different government bodies, mainly the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The trafficking of children has been prioritized in the National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings 2016-2019. Efforts have been made by the government to implement prevention measures through raising awareness, with much focus on safer Internet use by children. In terms of children's access to justice, Czechia does not have an Ombudsperson for Children to receive and resolve complaints made by children. Nevertheless, several child-sensitive measures have been put in place, including trainings for law enforcement personnel on how to communicate with child victims in specially designed hearing rooms. Czechia does not have specific recovery and reintegration services for victims of SEC, and could benefit from having clearer avenues for child victims to seek compensation. Although there has been progress in children's participation in matters of governance, efforts must be made to involve child victims and survivors in order to take their needs and interests into consideration while designing policies. Details: Bangkok: ECPAT International, 2019. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2019 at: https://www.ecpat.org/news/czechia-child-sexual-exploitation-through-prostitution-reaches-new-high/ecpat-country-overview-czechia-czech-republic-2019/ Year: 2019 Country: Czech Republic URL: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ECPAT-Country-Overview-Czechia-Czech-Republic-2019.pdf Shelf Number: 155932 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Prostitution Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Child Victims CzechiaForced Marriage Sexual Exploitation of Children Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tour |
Author: International Justice Mission Title: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Dominican Republic Summary: Introduction: The commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of women and girls in the Dominican Republic (DR) is a substantial problem. Understanding the current nature and scale of this phenomenon is critical to an effective response. An ILO study in 2003 reported that the total number of people in prostitution in the country was between 25,000 and 35,000, an estimated 60% of whom had entered the industry as minors. Other studies over the past 15 years have consistently reported high numbers of children being exploited in this industry; however, there has been no study in recent years measuring real time the prevalence of minors currently engaged in CSE in the DR. In late 2013, International Justice Mission (IJM) began working alongside the Dominican government in combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). This study, conducted in 2014, aimed to fill this research gap with a statistically significant measurement, as well as to provide a sound launching point from which to assess the effectiveness of joint interventions to address CSEC by the Dominican government and IJM in the coming years. Methodology After consultation with a variety of government and non-governmental stakeholders, IJM investigators conducted an initial mapping exercise of all locations where commercial sexual exploitation was consistently known to occur across 20 towns in the DR. In total, 233 establishments (bars, brothels, car washes, etc.) and 51 non-establishments (streets, beaches, parks, etc.) were mapped. Due to the nature of CSE in the DR, the study team integrated a traditional establishment-based method and a more innovative, street-based method which involved "catchment areas" around the randomly selected locations. Aiming for a statistically significant sample size, by the end of the study, data collectors had surveyed 206 randomly selected locations, including 150 establishments and 56 distinct non-establishments. Data collectors gathered both quantitative and qualitative information on the nature and prevalence of minors in commercial sexual exploitation, through direct observation and interactions with adults in the commercial sex industry, children in CSE, pimps and madams, and other intermediaries. Results: The prevalence of CSEC in the targeted areas of the Dominican Republic was 10.0%. Prevalence of CSEC was higher in parks, beaches, and street areas, where 23.9% - or nearly one in every four individuals - observed were under 18. In establishments, such as bars, clubs, and car washes, 5.8% - or one in twenty - of all commercial sex workers were under 18. A significant majority (92.8%) of these minors in CSE were Dominican. The overwhelming majority of minors found engaged in commercial sexual exploitation in the Dominican Republic were between the ages of 15 and 17. This study found very few minors below the age of 14 (0.6%). Overall, compared to the total number of sex workers observed, minors were observed more frequently in non-establishment locations. The majority of minor victims of commercial sexual exploitation observed in streets, parks, and beaches had no observable third party present with them at the time of data collection who was evidently profiting from their activities. An estimated 64.1% of the minors observed in CSE exhibited no observable indications of thirdparty exploitation. However, pimps, madams, and other intermediaries routinely offered to deliver minors from other locations. In 90% of places where minors could not be observed, investigators were 'promised' minors. In terms of establishment-based CSE, the majority takes place informally in bars, clubs, and known 'meeting places,' where clients can consistently find and make contact with adult CSWs and minors in CSE. Both those who exploit and sell minors for CSE and those who buy sex with minors engaged in CSE are perpetrators of crimes under Dominican law. The perpetrators observed selling children for CSE during this study were mostly opportunistic criminals, rather than organized criminal networks. The majority were Dominican. Furthermore, foreigners suspected to be sex customers were present in 23.3% of locations where commercial sex workers were present and in 25.9% of locations where minors in CSE were observed, indicating that the majority of CSE buyers are Dominican as well. The majority (70.5%) of the foreigners were observed in nine locations in the towns of Bavaro, Boca Chica, Cabarete, Juan Dolio, and Sosua. The overwhelming majority of foreigners observed were "white Americans" or "other whites." Police were present in 12.6% of locations surveyed in the study, and when present, they did not appear to make any efforts to enforce laws against CSEC, even though a reasonable observer could see minors engaging with adults. Research Recommendations: The scope of this study leaves room for further research. First, one lacking element surrounding the prevalence figures is a full spectrum understanding of the minors' circumstances leading up to and around their engagement in commercial sexual exploitation. Second, researchers should investigate whether the sexual exploitation of male children is occurring in the Dominican Republic and if so, should further research the scale and nature of that phenomenon, perhaps using a respondent driven sampling methodology. Third, exploring the circumstances of those minors engaged in commercial sexual exploitation with no observable third party was beyond the scope of this study. More in-depth qualitative research involving interviews with these minors would uncover more information about their situations, the nature and extent of third-party exploitation, and any non-observable psychologically manipulative tactics exerted by pimps, madams, and other intermediaries. All three of these are critical research gaps for both public justice system officials and other service providers in designing and implementing effective prevention, deterrence, and aftercare strategies and programs. The findings also highlighted parts of the phenomenon that went beyond the remit of this study. First, the results strongly suggest the existence of a robust hotel and cabana industry that provides rooms for adults to use to engage in sexual activity with minors. Interviews or further investigation with a variety of business owners, targeted particularly towards local, small hotels and cabanas, would help provide information to policymakers and those entities establishing regulations on the business and tourism sector about the connection and involvement of the hotel and bar industries in facilitation or provision of an enabling environment for commercial sexual exploitation. Second, the original scoping and stakeholder assessment indicated a higher number of Haitian girls engaged in CSEC in the Dominican Republic than what the data collectors observed in this study. Further research along the Haitian border would help resolve this discrepancy. Lastly, given the low percentage of foreigners present in places where CSE and CSEC were happening, additional research in the form of interviews of Dominican "johns" should be conducted to better understand the attitudes, motivations, perceptions, and common behaviors of men who buy sex from CSWs and in particular, with minors. Details: Washington, DC: International Justice Mission, 2015. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 21, 2019 at: https://www.ijm.org/documents/studies/IJM-Commercial-Sexual-Exploitation-of-Children-in-the-Dominican-Republic.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Dominican Republic URL: https://www.ijm.org/studies/commercial-sexual-exploitation-of-children-in-the-dominican-republic Shelf Number: 156565 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Commercial Sexual Exploitation Dominican Republic Human Rights Abuses Sexual Exploitation of Children |