rights of the child
  
OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN (OPSC)

On January 18th 2002, the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) came into force to support the CRC. It was the first international instrument to define and set out detailed requirements to end the above problems and protect children from being sold for other purposes such as illegal adoption and forced labour. The OPSC calls parties to:

  • Enact and enforce legislation to ban the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography;
  • Confiscate any items used in breaking those laws, including money generated from the crime;
  • Offer legal help to move criminal investigations forward;
  • Create public awareness through information and education campaigns; and;
  • Provide counseling and rehabilitation for child victims

Today, more than 100 countries have either signed or ratified the OPSC. State Parties to the CRC must submit reports on the implementation of the CRC and the OPSC to the Committee on the Rights of the Child every five years. Has your country ratified the OPSC? Find the answer here.

For the full text of the OPSC in old people lingo, click here.

 

Sources:
Child Rights Information Network; ECPAT International; UNICEF; Human Rights Learning Centre
CSEC Scoop
Young people around the world are speaking out and demanding the rights enshrined in the OPSC and CRC

CSEC Scoop
The AKBAY Theater Group educates the audience about their rights as children, at the “Stop Child Abuse Now!” rally in Quezon City Memorial Circle, Philippines
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