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19 August 2011
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Belarus and Nepal Monitoring Reports: Status of action
against commercial sexual exploitation of children
Belarus, a republic with a population of 10 million people,
has undergone major changes in the past decade from a centrally-managed
economy to market socialism, open to globalised trade. There is
little access to robust data about the extent and manifestations of CSEC
in Belarus; most available figures come from the government and are not
independently verified by a third party. Child trafficking, often
for the purpose of producing pornography, is a significant problem in
Belarus, though the government has implemented some policies to address
these issues. Belarus has a relatively undeveloped tourism industry, and
there are no reported cases of child sex tourism in Belarus, though it’s
unclear to what extent, if any, such cases exist unreported. The
government has expanded legal provisions to address child prostitution
and trafficking, though definitions are not yet consistent with the major
international legal instruments. Priority actions for Belarus include:
Developing and implementing a National Plan of Action on the sexual
exploitation of children and adolescents as specified in the Rio de
Janeiro Declaration and Call for Action; and signing and ratifying the
Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime and the Convention on Action
against Trafficking in Human Beings. To download full report, click here.
Nepal is a country in the midst of transformative political
changes from a monarchy to a democratic republic. However,
political turmoil, poverty, urbanization, discrimination and some
traditional practices contribute to continuing high rates of trafficking,
child marriage and exploitation of children in prostitution, by both
locals and a large number of foreign tourists. The prostitution of boys
is a significant problem inadequately recognised by policymakers and the
general public. Nepal has several CSEC-related National Plans of Action
and has ratified most international legal instruments; however,
implementation of these plans is weak due to inadequate resources. Though
Nepal has numerous legal provisions criminalising manifestations of CSEC,
some definitions conflict or lack specificity, rendering them difficult
to enforce comprehensively. Priority actions for Nepal include: signing
and ratifying the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, Especially Women and Children; and Nepal’s extraterritorial
legislation should be amended to include all CSEC related offenses, not
only human trafficking. To download full report, click here.
Release of the NGO
Joint Statistics Report: Database Report on Sexual Trafficking,
Exploitation and Rape in Cambodia
The‘NGO Joint
Statistics Report: Database Report on Sexual Trafficking, Exploitation
and Rape in Cambodia’project is currently being implemented
by four networks:
ECPAT Cambodia, NGOCRC and COSECAM have been implementing the project
since 2005 and Cambodia ACTs joined the project in 2010. Click
here to download the report.
Beyond Borders summer E newsletter out now
The ECPAT National group in Canada, Beyond Borders’ E newsletter
is available now and can be downloaded online in both English and French here
Research on ‘ICT use in Africa’
Cameroon, The Gambia, Togo, Kenya and Uganda are involved in the child
and youth led ICT
use in Africa research, which will target school children,
youth, cybercafé managers, and school teachers. The information
collection is expected to end by the first week of September 2011 and the
first draft report will be launched during the same month at the Internet
Governance Forum – IGF in Kenya. The main objective of the research is to
contribute to the design of programs and projects to protect children
from CSEC related to ICTs through awareness raising, public policy changes
and educational programmes. The research will also help to further
understanding of the level of child protection that is implemented in the
public places such as cybercafés and schools, as observed from the
child’s point of view, identifying gaps in current state of affairs and
also identifying ways by which new and strategic interventions on online
safety can be introduced.
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Film distributor, eOne, supports Beyond Borders
The ECPAT National Group in Canada, Beyond Borders, is
thrilled to promote the Canadian release of the film, The Whistleblower. The
film’s Canadian distributor, Entertainment One (eOne) is donating $1 from every
movie ticket sold in Canada to Beyond Borders.
This powerful thriller, staring Academy Award® winner Rachel
Weisz, dramatically illustrates the realities of sex trafficking of
women and girls as well as many of the disturbing barriers that work to
preventing its end. These are issues that Beyond Borders – ECPAT Canada
has been fighting for well over a decade.
Beyond Borders urges Canadians to see this important film and to take
action against human trafficking. It thanks eOne for its contribution to
combating child sexual exploitation.
Third Country Training on Capacity building on the Return,
Repatriation, and Reintegration of Trafficked Persons in Cambodia, Lao
PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam” in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
On 25-27 August, ECPAT International’s Regional Officer on Asia and
Pacific will be a speaker on the topic “In Shelter Protection, Repatriation:
Before and After, Reintegration & Follow up for Victims of
Trafficking in Persons” at the workshop, “Third Country Training on Capacity building on
the Return, Repatriation, and Reintegration of Trafficked Persons in
Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam” in Chiang Mai,
Thailand.
The workshop is organised by the Regional Center for Social
Science and Sustainable Development at Chiang Mai University, in
collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and
Thailand International Development Cooperation Agencies (TICA).
It aims to equip participants with the knowledge, techniques,
insights and information needed to efficiently carry out case management
activities, to ensure the participants are capable of passing on the
experience gained to other case workers in their home country, and to
build and strengthen the network of social workers/practitioners,
providing them with the expertise and commitment needed to combat
trafficking in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. There will
be approximately 23 participants, including mid-level officials from
Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Japan joining.
Session on the new UN CRC Protocol on the Communications
Procedure with the ECPAT Secretariat in Bangkok, Thailand
Ms. Anita Goh, Advocacy Officer of the NGO Group for the UN CRC, based in
Geneva, Switzerland will be visiting the ECPAT International Secretariat
on August 24th and will conduct a brief session on the new UN CRC
Protocol on the Communications Procedure with the Secretariat staff.
Compiled and edited by
Miroslav Kalniev, ECPAT International.
For further information or to include details of news or events, please
contact: Miroslav
Kalniev
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The Body Shop – ECPAT ‘Stop Sex Trafficking of Children
& Young People’ Campaign News
 
The Global
Campaign’s PETITIONS WILL CLOSE ON 22 AUGUST 2011! Will we reach 7 million
by Monday?
Congratulations,
ECPAT Philippines & The Body Shop Philippines!
On 3 August, ECPAT Philippines and The Body Shop presented an amazing
473,489 petitions to the President, His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III.
During the day, The Body Shop & ECPAT held a rally to signify the
fight for change and freedom from modern-day slavery at the People Power
Monument, which symbolises the restoration of democracy in the
Philippines. The petition called for action to increase funds for
anti-trafficking campaigns, to improve law enforcements and to provide more
services for victims, particularly temporary shelter, education,
counselling and legal assistance.
The President responded that: “the
Philippines stands behind your campaign. We are, and we will continue to
fulfil the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act to
prevent human trafficking, and to provide protection and services to
those who have already been victimised.”
The official press statement from the Office of the President can be read here.
Also, on 29 July 2011, ECPAT Philippines received a Plaque of
Appreciation for its anti-trafficking work from the Inter-Agency Council
Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT). This event was also attended by
President Aquino.
  
Indonesia Commits to Ratifying the Optional Protocol on the
Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography!
On 26 July 2011, ECPAT Indonesia and The Body Shop submitted 210,176
petition signatures to the Minister of Women Empowerment and Child
Protection, Ms. Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar. The event was held on National
Children’s Day and started off with a colourful entrance by our team at
the office of the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection in
Jakarta.
Ms. Gumelar responded: “The
Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection will coordinate the
ratification process with the Foreign Ministry and 2012 is the target for
Indonesia to ratify the Optional Protocol. The next step to the petitions
given is that we will be following up with the People’s Consultative
Assembly.” The team also made a symbolic presentation of
the total donation from the sale of over 30,000 Soft Hands Kind Heart
Hand Creams during the campaign. ECPAT Indonesia used these funds for an
action plan on empowering trafficking victims and an awareness raising
programme about the dangers of trafficking crimes.
 
Pakistan Achieves 818% of Its Petition Target!
On 25 July 2011, Pakistan Pediatric Association – ECPAT affiliate member
in Pakistan and The Body Shop handed 245,100 petitions over to the
Advisor to the Prime Minister, Mr. Mustufa Nawaz Khokhar. The petition
urges the Government of Pakistan to introduce the long awaited Child
Protection Bill and to develop a system for the protection and welfare of
the child in order to stop child trafficking. The Body Shop staff, ECPAT
representatives and volunteers marched in Islamabad to mark the handover
event.
Accepting the petitions, Mr. Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said: “Trafficking of the young and
adults is an extremely serious crime and a gross violation of human
rights. In response to the 245,100 people who have signed these
petitions, I will ensure that Government gets this clear message to
remember its responsibility to protect human rights of the
children.”
 
Taiwan Will Vote on Petition Call to Action!
On 19 July 2011, ECPAT Taiwan and The Body Shop presented 218,520 petitions
to their national Government, the Legislative Yuan. Legislators Sue-Ying
Huang, Chien-Kuo Liu and Shu-Fen Lin came to receive the petitions and to
show their support. The Taiwan petition has two calls to action: 1. Amend
the Child and Youth Sexual Transaction Prevention Act and the Commercial
Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act for Children and Young People; 2.
Introduce a cumulative penalty to prevent the sex trafficking of children
and people. The legislators confirmed that the petition call to action
regarding a change in the Child and Youth Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Prevention Act will be put to the vote at the next parliamentary session.
 
Ireland Confirms it is Close to Signing the Optional
Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of
Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
On 21 July 2011, Child Rights Alliance and The Body Shop in Ireland
handed over 165,010 petition signatures to the Irish Minister for
Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald. The Minister indicated
that barriers to Ireland signing the UN Optional Protocol on the Sale of
Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography are almost at an end.
She also handed over artwork of her own handprint, which was added to a
banner of handprints from many members of Government. Many members of
Government came out to show their support and add their handprints. All
TBS store and head office employees in Ireland contributed handprint
artworks, which are now hanging in stores.
  
YPP Ukraine Continues to Support Campaign Petition
Youth activists from YPP Ukraine continue to collect signatures for the
campaign petition to stop child sex trafficking. In August, activists
from Simferopol conducted three actions in the Crimean resorts. They
visited beaches and parks with informational materials and asked people
to sign the campaign petition. In total, they collected 860 signatures.
These activities will be organised in Odessa and Kiev until the end of
August. The final event will be organised on 26 August in Evpatoriya – a
resort in Crimea that is child friendly.
 
ACCOR in Fiji and New Zealand Join The Code of Conduct
On 9 August, ACCOR in New Zealand and Fiji registered as signatories to
The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual
Exploitation in Travel and Tourism through the Local Code
representatives, ECPAT Child ALERT. Mr. Alan Bell, Director of ECPAT
Child ALERT, said: “New
Zealand is fortunate that law enforcement exercised by the police,
customs and internal affairs monitors and enforces the law to a degree
that we do not experience child sex tourism to the same degree as some other
countries. However, it is wise to be proactive and to be alert to the
risks as we are not exempt from this sort of child abuse. The measures
become of particular importance during times such as the upcoming Rugby
World Cup where there will be a lot of overseas visitors moving around
the country with probability of increased alcohol consumption and crowd
behaviour.” ECPAT Child ALERT and ACCOR New Zealand and
Fiji will organise meetings for presentations, training and awareness
raising prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup event in New Zealand.
 
The ‘Centre Espérance Loyola’ of the Catholic Jesuits
Community in Lomé, Togo says ‘NO’ to CSEC
From 6th to 8th July, a three-day capacity building training workshop
organized by ‘Centre Espérance Loyola’ was facilitated by ECPAT
International’s Regional Associate for Africa and the YPP National
Coordinator of Togo on Child abuse, care and prevention measures and
gathered counselors, social workers, medical care staff, teachers from
the Loyal Center, some HIV/AIDS and child protection NGOs, Catholic
Sister congregations.
  
The Best Drama/Song/Dance Competition as part of the
MAKE-IT-SAFE Campaign in Kenya
The event was organized by End Child Prostitution in Kenya (ECPIK) in
collaboration with the Children Hope Foundation Center which hosts one of
the Child Rights Clubs (Adventures Club) that conducted the Make-IT-Safe
(MIS) training.
There were around 200 school children and about 25 adults who attended
the MIS drama/song/dance competition. The children in the two clubs
invited their peers to come to the competition to support them as well as
to learn what the MIS was all about. The adults included teachers and
some community health workers and leaders. The theme of the event was
Safeguarding Children in the Online Environment.
 
Belarusian project for small kids on trafficking and child
pornography prevention
Specialists from the ECPAT Affiliate group, Public Association for the
Prevention of Child Abuse "Children - not for Abuse" (Minsk,
Belarus) completed the implementation of the project "In a Dangerous World our
Children Can Live in Safety." This project was
implemented within the framework of the international project
"Combating Trafficking in Human Beings: The Republic of Belarus' in
cooperation, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and
the financial support by the Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The aim of the initiative is the minimization
of cases involving children in the trafficking and production of child
pornography.
 
Annual meeting of the All-Ukrainian network against CSEC
On August 4, the ECPAT Affiliate group, International Women's Rights
Center "La Strada Ukraine" in the Kiev city center "Family
House" organised an annual meeting of the All-Ukrainian Network
against CSEC, which was attended by 19 organisations that came from
many cities from around Ukraine. This meeting was supported by UNICEF and
was devoted to the public monitoring of government policy in combating
commercial sexual exploitation of children and the future of
All-Ukrainian Network against CSEC in the area. Thus, during the meeting,
it was recognised that there is the need for comprehensive and continuous
monitoring in combating CSEC, and data at both national and international
levels is also needed.
It was decided to accept the provisions of the Declaration and Plan of
Action of Rio de Janeiro, approved in 2008 during the Third World
Congress, for monitoring purposes. In addition to monitoring,
participants discussed issues of NGO activities with children's rights in
the context of administrative reform, joint efforts to combat CSEC during
the Euro 2012 and strategic plans for future activities. Among 30
registered members, eight were not active and were excluded from the
network. Three new NGOs and one individual member (Youth Motivator from
YPP project in Crimea) became new members. At the moment, the All –Ukrainian
network consists of 25 organisations and two individual members. La
Strada Ukraine was once again voted to be the lead organisation of the
network.
 
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Nepal Team:
On 17th July 2011, Maiti Nepal organised a musical night on the theme
‘Shakti: joining hands towards empowerment of the children and women’
staying under the care and protection of Maiti Nepal in Kathmandu. The
performances were done in the three different categories. First was the
drama called ‘NAARI’ which means women and a mother that portrays the
reality of women and children’s situation in Nepal. The drama was based
on the issue of trafficking and violence against women and children in
Nepal which was performed by the young girls and women from Maiti Nepal
that included YPP youth.
India Team:
The YPP India team visited the ECPAT Affiliate Group STOP for conducting
training to the girls residing in its Family Home called Ashray. The
objectives of the three days’ training were to orient them about YPP,
imparting Life Skills and Leadership and developing action plans for Peer
Support Programme and microprojects in their shelter home.
Bangladesh Team:
One of the ECPAT Affiliate groups, Aparajeyo, Bangladesh’s shelter home,
and YPP partner, ‘Improving Responses to the Children in Conflict with
the Law’ - IRCCL Project, Children Development Centre Motijeel, organised
a meeting of the local leaders as part of the regular and planned
meetings. The IRCCL Project invited and gave a space to the YPP team at
the meeting to share information on its work and to draw commitments and
effective recommendations from the community leaders.
It was attended by 12 civil society members who came from different
professions such as the President of Bankers Forum, Association of
Doctors, Government officials, business groups, and educationists.
Vietnam team:
Within the HIV/AIDS and CSEC micro-project, the HIV and CSEC comic
book "Youth's Handbook to stop HIV/AIDS and CSEC" has been
completed. The target group are children and youths aged between 10 and
20 years old.
This comic book will be printed this month and will be disseminated in Phuc
Xa School and other local partners of YPP Vietnam by the end of this
month.
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