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rights of the child
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FIRST WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN | |
Beginning on August 27 1996, 1300 government officials, professionals, activists, law enforcement agencies, health professionals, academic institutions, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, members of the media and 47 young people representing 130 countries gathered in Stockholm, Sweden for the First World Congress against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. Organized by End Child Prostitution, Pornography, and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT), UNICEF, and the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the World Congress focused media attention on the issue, and was the first time that government and UN delegates met with NGOs and young people as equal agents of change to discuss and debate the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The week-long event was filled with panels and workshops revolving around nine themes, and led to the unanimous adoption of the Declaration and Agenda for Action. By the end of the conference, 122 countries committed themselves to a “global partnership against the commercial sexual exploitation of children.” |
 A wall hanging commemorating the First World Congress against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. (©Sheetal Doshi) |
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SECOND WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN | |
In an effort to reaffirm and review the political commitment to the implementation of the Agenda for Action adopted at the First World Congress and to share expertise and positive actions to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children, the Second World Congress was held in Yokohama, Japan from December 17-21, 2001. A working conference rather than a ceremonial one, Yokohama brought more than 3045 people together and 134 government delegations to share and learn from each other through 108 workshops and several exhibits and presentations run by non-governmental organizations, and governments. Most notably, youth participation soared! 90 delegates came together through a program for children and youth, held in Kawasaki City from December 13-16. The young people also participated in the conference, and were involved in organizing their own roundtables, debates, and presentations. Check out the outcome document: The Young People’s Declaration, here. |
 Logo of the 2nd World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
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WORLD CONGRESS III AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS (WCIII) | |
More than a decade after Stockholm, the WCIII opened on November 25, 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with the theme “Guarantee of the Rights of Children and Adolescents and their Protection against Sexual Exploitation — For a Systemic Approach.” It was the largest event to date on the theme and over three days, 3500 delegates from 170 countries, including heads of State, 55 governmental authorities, and 300 children and adolescents attended 227 workshops, discussions and five panels that helped them to form alliances, address new challenges and dimensions of sexual exploitations, identify advances and gaps in legislation and design strategies and set goals for combating the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. OneChild attended the WCIII and even participated in drafting the Rio de Janeiro Declaration and Call for Action to Prevent and Stop Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, alongside youth from other countries. Check it out!
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 Panel at WCIII (©ECPAT) |
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