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Summary: The leader of the global UN Study on Violence against Children Prof. Paulo Pinheiro and Brazil’s Secretary for Human Rights Dr Mario Mamede head the list of speakers at an international meeting to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children which opens here Thursday. [RIO DE JANEIRO, 6 September 2005] - The Independent Expert leading the global UN Study on Violence against Children Prof. Paulo Pinheiro and Brazil’s Secretary for Human Rights Dr Mario Mamede head the list of speakers at an international meeting to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children which opens here Thursday. Also attending the ECPAT International Assembly in Rio from 8th-10th September are representatives of Brazil’s government and Congress, international experts, and about 200 delegates from 67 countries, including a large group from Brazil. ECPAT International is a global child rights network charged with monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Stockholm Agenda for Action against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by its 161 signatory governments. Every three years the network meets to review progress and plan global strategies to combat the sexual exploitation of children. ECPAT International executive director Ms Carmen Madriñán says the presence of Prof. Pinheiro is extremely important because he is leading the first world-wide study into the violence that children experience in every aspect of their lives. “Sexual exploitation is one of the most abhorrent forms of violence against children and Professor Pinheiro will provide a better understanding from a child rights perspective of how it fits into the larger picture of violence in children’s daily lives.” Ms Madrinan says that Dr Mamede’s presence reflects the strong initiatives against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by Brazil’s government and its children’s groups, which was the reason Brazil was chosen for the Assembly. A key issue at this meeting is how to better understand and combat the Demand for commercial sexual exploitation of children. ECPAT International will present findings from research in Europe and Latin America into attitudes to commercial sex with children by individuals, certain groups of exploiters, and the wider public, and into the underlying social, cultural and historical forces which sanction this exploitation of children. Similar research is due to start in Brazil in the coming months. NOTE TO EDITORS Journalists and media representatives are invited to attend the open sessions and to interview experts and delegates. Registration in person is from 7:30am Thursday, 8th September at the Sofitel Hotel in Rio de Janeiro. To register in advance or for more information, please contact: ECPAT International communications officer, Karen Mangnall (English, Spanish, French) or Assembly media consultant Renata Coccaro (Portuguese, English, French) at media@ecpat.net Visit the Assembly website Find out more about ECPAT and Make-IT-safe MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES 8pm, Wednesday 7, 2005 Opening cocktail hosted by the National Committee Against Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents, Othon Palace Hotel, Rio de Janeiro. Attending will be Dr Mario Mamede, Secretary for Human Rights (on behalf of the President of Brazil); Oswaldo Russo from the Ministry for Social Development; Federal MP Ms Laura Carneiro (representing the National Congress); Jose Fernando Silva, president of the National Council for the Rights of the Child. Thursday 8, 2005 09:00-10:00 Keynote speakers: · Prof. Paulo Pinheiro, Independent Expert, UN Study on Violence against Children; UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar/Burma · Dr Mario Mamede, Secretary for Human Rights, Brazil 10:00-10:20 Coffee Break - Speakers available for brief media interviews 10:20-12:00 Panel - Demand for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children · Marcel Hazeu, Coordinator, JEPIARA programme, Belem, Amazon region, Brazil · Doris Wolcott, leader, ECPAT research on Demand in Peru · Katlijn Declercq, ECPAT Belgium, research on Demand among military recruits and truck drivers in Europe · David Butt, Canadian prosecutor 18.30 Launch of Accor Brazil Code of Conduct against Child Sex Tourism Friday 9, 2005 14:30-16:00 Panel – Prostitution of Boys 16:30-18:30 Workshops Saturday 10, 2005 09:00-10:30 Roundtables 11:00-13:00 & 14:00-16:00 Workshops 16:30-18:30 Closing session - Strategic Directions for 2005-2009 For details on the topics for workshops and roundtables, go to the Assembly website ECPAT International Assembly supporters - the Governments of Brazil (Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Tourism, Department of Immigration), Australia (AusAID), New Zealand (NZAID), and Norway (Ministry of Foreign Affairs); the Oak Foundation, CordAid, Week of Compassion, and the Olof Palme Foundation, Accor.