New ECPAT International Affiliate 1999

ECPAT UNITES TO FIGHT THE GLOBAL RISE
IN THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN

ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking for Sexual Purposes), headquartered in Bangkok Thailand, is a global network of organizations in more than 60 countries fighting against the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Child advocates from 43 of these countries gathered in Bangkok from September 16 - 20, 1999 for the first International ECPAT Assembly entitled "Building ECPAT Together." The meeting was primarily sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland, with financial support also coming from the Embassy of Finland in Thailand, Coca-Cola and the American Women's Club of Thailand.

ECPAT was founded in May, 1990 in Chiang Mia, Thailand where a group of individuals gathered to discuss the enormity of the problem of children being forced into prostitution to feed the demand of tourists visiting Asia. Originally named End Prostitution in Asian Tourism, ECPAT had as its goal the eradication of the sexual abuse of children by foreigners. In August, 1996 the Swedish government hosted the first World Congress Against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. No longer could governments turn a blind to this problem. ECPAT with its partner organizations UNICEF and the NGO Group on the Rights of the Child had brought together representatives from 122 countries who adopted an Agenda for Action against three areas of commercial sexual exploitation:

the prostitution of children;
child pornography;
trafficking of children for sexual purposes.

Following the Swedish conference ECPAT, because of its remarkable growth and success, was recognized as an international organization. It expanded its mandate to include all child sexual exploitation everywhere.

Child advocates at the Bangkok meeting recognized that the shrinking world combined with the global growth in Internet child pornography and the child sex trade has heightened the need for ECPAT. Although hard data on the number of children who are commercially sexually abused are hard to gather, ECPAT reported that, for example, of the 9 million prostitutes in India, nearly 3 million are children. Sex for survival has now become commonplace in Latin America with a estimated 2,500 children involved in prostitution in the Dominican Republic. Canada has seen a growth in the child sex industry especially in British Columbia where the majority of the children are from the aboriginal and other marginalized communities. The sale and trafficking of children across borders by organized networks also continues to grow. Children who have been trafficked are often treated by authorities when caught as criminals not victims. The Internet's ability to anonymously and instantly transmit child pornography to pedophiles around the world has made more children vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Also of concern to ECPAT is the countries which for religious or cultural reasons ignore the victimization of boys. ECPAT works in these communities to educate the public that the children abused in heterosexual or homosexual sexual relations can at no time give consent and are to be considered as crime victims.

ECPAT is often asked, "Who are the exploiters"? Studies show that the majority of users of prostituted children are male between 20 and 65. Most are local men but foreign tourists are part of the problem. The latter often excuse their behaviour saying they are helping out poor children justifying what is actually child sexual abuse. Exploiters include all those who profit from the commercial sexual exploitation of children including traffickers, pimps, brothel owners, taxi drivers, hotels owners, travel organizations and tour operators that promote sex tourism. Child pornography consumers, producers and distributors are also part of the problem.

The work of ECPAT has received international attention and respect. The rise to national importance of many ECPAT's in countries like Japan, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Italy highlighted the need for ECPAT organizations everywhere. As a result of ECPAT's work, more than 21 countries now have effective extraterritorial laws against the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Over 70 prosecutions of sex tourists have occurred worldwide. In many countries the tourist industry has become increasingly involved in the prevention of child sexual abuse by tourists. Air France was the first airline to show a video on the problem of sex tourism on long haul flights. Pushed by ECPAT, countries like Japan have upgraded child protection laws and made child pornography a priority. A first for ECPAT was their intervention with ECPAT affiliate Beyond Borders and ECPAT Canada in 1999 in the British Columbia Court of Appeal case the Queen versus Sharpe where the child pornography possession laws were found to be unconstitutional. The unity and recommitment of all the ECPAT groups to continue the campaign was one of the major successes of the Bangkok meeting.

Four keynote speakers highlighted the four day meeting including the Prime Minister of Thailand, He Chuan Leekpai. The Prime Minister informed the gathering that Thailand has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 2 NGOs to ensure that when trafficked people are found, a procedure will be followed to give them proper treatment. Liz O'Donnell, Minister of Development Cooperation, Ireland spoke on how she was personally sensitized in her political life to this problem. Providing the major funding for the Bangkok meeting showed her commitment to the campaign. UNICEF's New York Child Protection Chief , Karin Landgren, outlined the task ahead for ECPAT committing UNICEF's full support. Ms. Landgren noted that the issue of child sexual abuse had fallen from the international children's agenda being replaced by child soldiers and children in armed conflict. The last keynote speaker was a longtime friend of ECPAT, Professor Vitit Muntarborn, of the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University.

Much was accomplished during the 4 days in Bangkok . A new Constitution was drafted and a new chairperson, Jo de Linde, ECPAT France chosen. Also elected were 7 new Board members; Indrani Sinai - India; Antoinette Dimcevska - Yugoslavia; Mark Erik Hecht - Canada; Helena Karlin - Sweden; Fassil Marriam - Ethiopia; Denise Ritchie - New Zealand; and Ana Kelly Rivera - El Salvador . Fifteen workshops were held on various topics ranging from how to set up a hotline; how to work with the police and the media; how to lobby and fundraise; and how to best combat sex tourism. Experts on specific issues including Agnes Fournier de Saint Maur from Interpol and Internet consultant John Carr directed the workshops.

One of the most important events which brought so many to Bangkok was the launching of ECPAT's "A Step Forward", the third report on the National Action Plans, agreed to in the Agenda for Action adopted by the 122 countries at the World Congress in Sweden in 1996. These plans are to coordinate and identify the actions needed in each country. Forty countries have National Plans in place which double what was reported last year. ECPAT's goal is to have 122 national plans in place by 2000 .

New policies were also drafted during the assembly. The necessity of having youth participation in all ECPAT activities, regarding all children in the sex trade as prostituted children or children abused in prostitution not child prostitutes, defining child pornography as not just pictures of children but also audio visual and computer generated pseudo pornography were endorsed.

Obviously the challenges ahead for ECPAT are daunting. Those countries especially in the Middle East that remain in denial about child sexual abuse pose huge problems for NGOs. However, ECPAT now speaks with a common voice. Renewed energy to end this common form of modern slavery emerged at the end of the four days. In the words of ECPAT's new Honorary Chairperson, Ron O'Grady, "If you can help save one child from the violence of sexual abuse, your life has had meaning and purpose."

Beyond Borders was given official affiliate status with ECPAT at the Bangkok assembly.

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