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[RIO DE JANEIRO, 28 November 2008] – The III World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents closed this afternoon with an unfinished outcome document, but a passionate statement from the children and adolescents present at the congress. Jaap Doek, Rapporteur for the Congress, who was due to present the outcome document explained progress that had been made on the document called the 'Rio de Janeiro Pact to Combat Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents'. He specified that the document was not a legally binding document, but a document developed by the participants of the conference. The document is divided into a Preamble, a section on review of progress made and lessons learned, a declaration and a plan of action. The first three sections were finalised and adopted, but not the core of the document, which is the Plan of Action. “We will have a very powerful and rich document,” he said. But “given all the schedules we are still working on some of the language and ideas to get into the plan of action. This is unfinished business,” Doek said. This document was partly drafted during the congress, but also through the input from meetings and consultations that took place around the world prior to the congress and that involved civil society, governments and children. The report will remain open for comments and input for another 30 days. Rashad from Barbados who was speaking on behalf of the children and adolescents said they were the children who had suffered from adult exploitation, but organised and united, they have gone from being victims to actors. “However, it is not enough to just give us a voice but you MUST listen,” he said, “listen to our calls for urgent action, listen to our experiences and most importantly listen to our solutions. “We the children of the world ask of ourselves and similarly of you to share presentations of the proceedings of this conference with your communities, your nations and regions to perpetuate this message further,” he continued. Speaking earlier to CRIN, 15-year old Syllamabinty who had traveled from Guinea said that she was ready to go home and organise meetings with working children and tell them about messages she had heard here. To the participants, she recommended they do the same. Asked whether she was tired from the hard work and traveling, she replied that 'no, everyone is here for us, the children, so it's OK, I have to do my job here and I don't want to complain”. Further information: