WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Issued by: Ministry of Welfare and Population Development

3 September 1996

In what could be described as a significant move by world countries in finding a global solution to the commercial sexual exploitation of children, a South African delegation led by myself participated at the recent World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held in Stockholm, Sweden. Our delegation was composed of government department officials, including two police officers, and NGO representatives. With topics ranging from sex tourism to pornography, we held a myriad of workshops.

One of the highlights of the congress, that drew enormous sharing of experiences with other participant countries, was the adoption of the Declaration and Agenda for Action in which we committed ourselves to international co-operation on the issue. Among other interventions, the Declaration seeks to:

• Promote stronger co-operation between states and all sectors of the society to prevent children from entering the sex trade and to strengthen the role of families in protecting children against commercial sexual exploitation.
• Enforce laws, policies and programmes to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation and strengthen communication and co-operation between law enforcement authorities.
• Mobilise political and other partners, national and international communities, including inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, to assist countries in eliminating the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

What we all stressed and found critical was the need for co-operation and sharing of information as commercial sexual exploitation of children was a global problem. The need for traas-national co-operation and extra-territorial legislation was necessary in dealing with the problem. Congress stressed that there should be no delusion by a myth that there are regions that do not have the commercial sexual exploitation of children, when their nationals were involved in sexual exploitation of children in other countries.

Also associated to the disturbing commercial sexual exploitation of children is child pornography. Congress recommended that:

• The debate regarding child pornography should be carried at a global level, and that public awareness should be heightened as to its (child pornography) abuse connotations to children.
• Computer generated child pornography and the possession of child pornography in general should be criminalised.
• Police should be adequately trained, resourced and given the authority to be proactive in the pursuit of child abusers. Laws that do not allow for this should be changed.

The best part of the congress was participation of children and young persons who sent a clear message that children were to be seen and heard. For too long, children have been made to be silent and therefore, making them subservient to exploitation. Congress offered them an opportunity to speak out and participate on matters of concern to them. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - should be seen as the guiding light in preventing the violation of children's rights.

At the congress, South African delegates also participated in a regional Africa consultation, coming up with a joint communique and the steps on how the evil of commercial sexual exploitation of children could be addressed in the continent. As African delegates to the congress we resolved to:

• Encourage research and to establish networks within Africa in order to facilitate support for countries that do not have the capacity to do so.
• Mobilise political and societal will and commitment through regional and continental structures. In this regard, the OAU, and especially the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, has a determinant role in bringing the issue to the attention of all concerned.
• Develop a framework for collaboration between Governments, inter-governmental and NGO organisations concerning the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and other related international instruments.
• Encourage the review and reform of the legal systems, to make for successful prosecution of offenders and their possible extradition.
• Hold an Africa meeting in 1997 to review country strategies for the elimination of sexual exploitation of children.
• Call on states and all relevant agencies the NGOs to initiate education programmes that will prevent sexual exploitation of children.
• Call on states, international agencies, and NGOs to make accessible medical and psychological rehabilitation for child victims of sexual exploitation.
• Call on all UN agencies, particularly UNICEF and the Centre for Human Rights, to support the African programmes aimed at combatting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
• Call on states to support and encourage the ongoing United Nations effort in drafting an Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

In dealing with the problem, the South African Government has launched the National Programme of Action for Children (NPA). The programme undertakes to meet the World Summit call for the survival, protection, development and participation of children, and the crea- tion of a society that prioritises the needs of children, especially those in difficult circumstances. As a way forward from the world congress, the first thing for us to do, will be to meet as delegates and work on a report which entails recommendations to be circulated for comment, to all stakeholders.

Issued: Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Minister of Welfare and Population Development Enquiries: Brian Sokutu, Press Secretary Telephone: (012) 328-4600