New data on violence against children

Hidden in Plain Sight report
UNICEF just released a new report (Hidden in Plain Sight: A statistical analysis of violence against children) on violence against children worldwide. The results are shocking.
Around 120 million girls under the age of 20 worldwide (about 1 in 10) have experienced forced intercourse or other forced sexual acts, and one in 3 ever-married adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 (84 million) have been victims of emotional, physical or sexual violence committed by their husbands or partners.
“Violence against children occurs every day, everywhere.  And while it harms individual children the most, it also tears at the fabric of society — undermining stability and progress.   But violence against children is not inevitable. It is preventable — if we refuse to let violence remain in the shadows,” UNICEF Executive Director said.  “The evidence in this report compels us to act — for the sake of those individual children and the future strength of societies around the world.”
Source: UNICEF
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Inaction over Rotherham trafficking highlights culture of impunity

Scandal in Rotherham, abstract of the ECPAT UK blog

The latest scandal of another UK town’s failure to respond adequately to widespread sexual exploitation of its children highlights an endemic issue across the United Kingdom. In communities throughout our country, including Oxford, Rochdale and Newcastle, we have been confronted with overwhelming evidence of repeated and multiple failures to prevent child abuse and protect children.

The Rotherham authorities, whose job it is to protect and safeguard those most vulnerable, failed to react to exploited children as victims of serious abuse. Despite all of the shocking revelations of the past few years, statutory agencies continue to disregard the horrific and coercive conditions of abuse – often seeing these children as perpetrators themselves or ‘troublemakers’. Some have even gone so far as to hold the children themselves accountable for what has happened. This culture of disbelief has to end before thousands of more lives are damaged and ruined.

Child victims of trafficking and exploitation are often unable to recognise that they are victims, blaming themselves for the abuse they suffer. They have been groomed to think that their worth is valued by sex and degradation. Such attitudes are only compounded by authorities’ failure to act and inability to provide protection.

More information : ECPAT UK website

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July 30 as the First World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

imgresThe UN General Assembly officially designated July 30 as the first ever World Day against Trafficking in Persons. This day is meant to raise awareness, improve coordination, and promote the rights of victims of human trafficking. Trafficking in persons is defined as the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, or harbouring a person through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, with the intent to exploit. Individuals may be trafficked for purposes such as forced labour or commercial sex. The UN also urges countries to ratify and implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol on Trafficking in Persons.

ECPAT Belgium supports the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and advocates for the millions of individuals who are affected. This form of modern day slavery is an extreme violation of human rights. ECPAT Belgium specifically works to support the rights of the child and those affected by child prostitution, child sex tourism, child pornography, and child trafficking. It is important to recognize that children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, especially those that are homeless or come from abusive backgrounds. UNICEF estimates that approximately 2 million children worldwide are exploited through commercial sex. The consequences of this crime are extremely severe and devastating. By taking measures to increase public awareness, collaborate with authorities, and strengthen legislation to promote the rights of the child, commercial sexual exploitation against children can end.

 

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TIP Report 2014 has been released

Each year, the US State Department releases a “Trafficking in Persons Report” (TIP Report), which represents an updated, global look at the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate it.

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Countries are placed onto one of three tiers based on the extent of their governments’ efforts to comply with the “minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking”.

Belgium is ranked in Tier 1, which means it complies with the minimum standards. However, the recommendations made by ECPAT Belgium calling for a specific protection against child trafficking have been included in the report.

 

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Traveling to Brazil, don’t look away from child prostitution!

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In preparation of the World Cup, the working group “Stop Child Prostitution” launches a new national campaign against the sexual exploitation of children for travelers going to Brazil, specifically to supporters who are attending the World Cup. The sexual exploitation of children is an alarming phenomenon in Brazil. The exceptional rise in tourists during this global event creates an increased risks of the sexual exploitation of children.

The partners of the “Stop Child Prostitution” campaign want to remind the travelers that if, on the spot, they are witnesses of the sexual exploitation of children, they can call the number 100 to directly report all cases of sexual exploitation to the Brazilian authorities. It is also possible to report the cases of sexual exploitation upon arrival in Belgium, or by the Belgian police using the link eCops through the site www.polfed-fedpol.be or through the contact point www.stopchildprostitution.be.

Press Release Stop Child Prostitution (in French)

FAQ World Cup and Child Sex Tourism

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Belgium ratifies OP3CRC

Belgium has become the 11th country to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure (OP3CRC). The State ratified the treaty on 30 May and children and their representatives will be able to bring complaints against Belgium from the 30 August 2014.

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure (OP3 CRC) is an international human rights treaty that allows the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (the Committee) to hear complaints alleging that a child’s rights have been violated. Children will only be able to approach the UN if the national legal system has not been able to provide a remedy for the violation.

Belgium has also become the fourth state to accept the “inter-state” communication procedure which will allow one state to bring a complaint against another.

Belgium ratifies OP3CRC

What is OP3CRC

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New report on commercial sexual exploitation of children in Brazil

In the framework of the Don’t Look Away campaign, a new report on sexual exploitation of children in Brazil has been issued by ECPAT, Free a Girl, Terre des Hommes and Plan Nederland.

It contains updated information on the nature and the extent of sexual exploitation of children in Brazil, mainly focussed on the cities where the tournament takes place.

New report on sexual exploitation of children in Brazil

Click here to access the summary.

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Rousseff applauded a Law condemning sexual exploitation of children

The Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced the new law against sexual exploitation of children. She stated that “from now Brasil has a strong legal instrument in the fight against sexual exploitation of children and adolescents”. The law is a response to all complaints and grievances that were expressed by Brazilians over the last years.

This law punishes those who regularly sexually exploit minors and vulnerable people and who promote child prostitution. This new law also integrates higher penalties for these kind of crimes. It was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil.

Article: Rousseff applauded a Law condemning sexual exploitation of children

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5e Training Make-IT-Safe

The 6th May, the fifth training of the Make-IT-Safe project was held, which enabled the group to discuss the different roman-photos/films established by the youngsters/coaches concerning respect, the right to image, sexting and passwords.

 

During the reunion, the dissemination of the project was discussed as well as the activities for parents and the sustainability of the project. Questionnaires were distributed to the youngsters and their coaches for the establishment of the evaluation made through the project.

 

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Financed by the European Union

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Establishment of a new European online reporting platform

Under the project “Don’t Look Away”, coordinated by ECPAT France, a new European platform for reporting cases of child sexual exploitation abroad has been created. This website enables individuals to report suspected cases of child sexual exploitation even if they are abroad through providing links to existing national online reporting mechanisms. Where no national reporting mechanism exists, this website will provide alternative information on how to report.

 

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To all  who are travelling: Don’t look away from child exploitation and report suspicious situations! Abusers can be prosecuted and convicted for sexual offenses against children committed abroad also in their home country. Your report matters.

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