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Summary: Statement prepared and delivered by young persons at the opening ceremony of the III World Congress on Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents taking place in Brazil from 25 to 28 November 2008.We are here representing children and adolescents from the whole world to contribute to the process of fighting and increasing awareness about the big problem that is growing in recent years.
Which is the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents.
It is the first time that 300 children are coming together to talk about and decide what measures and actions to take. We need to urge the governments to join us in our decisions. We ask for their commitment here today, in their respective countries, for accept the decisions children have made here and follow up on them.
Laws have to be promoted in order for this to happen as soon as possible without delay.
(1) We call people to raise awareness and discuss sexual exploitation of children and adolescents through mass media. Governments should guarantee the enforcement of laws protecting child and adolescents and also support the victims of sexual exploitation through rehabilitation programmes so that they can be reintegrated into society. Independent organizations, separate from governments should be created to monitor the fulfillment of government commitments to protect child and adolescents.
(2) The rights of children must be regarded with the same importance as the rights of adults. We also state that sexual education should be a part of school curriculum for children from 10 years of age and older. Therefore teachers have to be educated to explain the particular rights of the children.
Another problem is the early marriage of children to older persons. We want this to be seen and also treated as a crime. There has to be a stricter legislation and the children have to be educated about their right to refuse an early marriage and also to be aware of the option of divorce.
(3)Children and adolescents, NGOs, businesses, the media, community groups, religious organizations should work together and be represented in local governance structures, task groups and to raise their concerns at the local district and national level to participate actively in monitoring bodies to ensure effective implementation of national plans of action as the consequences. It is important to establish an intersectoral committee to guarantee the enforcement of public policies against the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, guaranteeing effective participation of children and adolescents in the committee.
(4) We would like tourism companies, the internet and mainly the media to provide material that will educate their customers and help them to understand their roles and responsibilities to protect children. And to also provide a means for chldren to protect themselves against sexual exploitation. – by reporting such cases through the internet and hotlines.
The media should produce advertisements that will help children protect themselves from sexual exploitation.
(5) When we talk about governments and inter-governmental Cooperation, we want:
1)Countries to adopt and implement bilateral and multilateral agreements and ensure regular monitoring in order to strengthen cross border Law Enforcement to stop trafficking and to protect the rights of all migrants.
2)Governments and Donors to commit more resources to strengthen and expand children’s regional networks and actions against Sexual Exploitation of Children and to develop campaigns, plans, programs, strategies and policies.
3)Governments to meet at least once a year at the Regional level to discuss the issue of Sexual Exploitation of Children and develop common strategies and measurable, time-bound goals by involving organized children and youth to strengthen and broaden local mobilization.
Ladies and gentlemen, Governments, NGOs and civil society,
We, the children and adolescents of the world, are expressing our feelings and our voices that can be heard all over the world. We are speaking from our hearts. We represent a new strategy for change.
The decision to improve the quality of life of children and adolescents – it is in our hands.
Let us take this forward and make it happen.
Imagine a world without sexual exploitation. How many of our global problems will then be far off?
It is the right moment to find the roots of sexual exploitation in our home countries and also the right moment for you to admit that harmful practices need to be eliminated.
We, the children and adolescents, need your support and together we will fight against sexual exploitation. Thank you
Owner: Youth participants at the III World Congress