Countering sexual exploitation of children

Recent estimates suggest at least one million children are being sexually exploited in eight Asian countries alone. According to End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism (ECPAT), there are now as many as 300,000 child prostitutes in India, 100,000 in Thailand, 100,000 in Taiwan, 100,000 in the Philippines, 40,000 in Viet Nam, 30,000 in Sri Lanka, many thousands in China, about 150,000 Nepali girls under 16 in Indian brothels, and as many as 40,000 Bengali children are being prostituted in Pakistan. Brazil is estimated to have up to half a million street children who may offer sex. In Asia, child prostitutes are mostly in brothels or massage parlours where many are kept in a state that is indistinguishable from slavery.

The Stockholm Agenda for Action was adopted by 122 countries at the World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation (1996).

Germany, Norway and Sweden have introduced new laws to allow the prosecution of child-abusing "sex tourists" in their country of origin. Australia, France and New Zealand are considering legislation. Article 34 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child requires ratifying governments to end the exploitative use of children in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices. No government encourages "sex tourism". Some do more than others to protect children from it.

Late in 2000, Mexico and Costa Rica operations of Casa Alianza undertook an investigation into the trafficking of Central American girls to Mexico where they are sold to brothels for US $100-200 for sexual exploitation. Casa Alianza is undertaking a major study into the trafficking of children for commercial sexual 99exploitation in six countries (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica).