it’s your move youth action group 1st floor, 67 station rd, observatory 7925, cape \town tel: 021...
TRANSCRIPT
It’s Your MoveIt’s Your MoveYouth Action GroupYouth Action Group
1st Floor, 67 Station Rd, Observatory 7925, Cape \town1st Floor, 67 Station Rd, Observatory 7925, Cape \townTel: 021 4485421 Fax: 021 4474997Tel: 021 4485421 Fax: 021 4474997
Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
TheTheCommercial SexualCommercial Sexual
ExploitationExploitationof Childrenof Children
Young People’s PerspectiveYoung People’s Perspective
OutlineOutline1. Case study2. Reporting CSEC/ young people3. Who gets prostituted and sexually
exploited4. Factors that impact on the CSEC5. Different levels of CSEC6. Who are responsible for CSEC of children7. Challenges in the fight against CSEC8. Recommendations9. Conclusion
• CSEC has recently taken on endemic proportions
• Trucking routes• Child sex rings• Used to push drugs and gang operations• Prostitution as a means of survival• Pornography
Reporting Reporting CSEC/young peopleCSEC/young people
• All children & young people vulnerable• Especially those who have run away• Also those from stable homes• Children pimped by parents• Made false promises of work• Children are trafficked inside & across
SA borders
Who gets prostituted and Who gets prostituted and sexually exploitedsexually exploited
1. Increase in unemployment2. Low levels of education3. Changes in the extended and nuclear family4. Changes in the religious and cultural beliefs of
society5. Breakdown in family and community support
systems6. Lack of social welfare and protective services for
children7. Lack of effective inestigation, sentencing and
prosecution of offenders
Factors that impact on the Factors that impact on the CSECCSEC
8. Increased demand for black children for sexual purposes
9. Changes in the international sex industry10. Increased demand for sexual acts with younger
children11. Wrong beliefs that children are free from STD’s12. Wrong beliefs that sex with a virgin will cure STD’s,
including HIV & AIDS13. Relative bargaining power of older sex workers 14. Children are less likely to negotiate terms of
exchange
Factors that impact on Factors that impact on CSEC cont…CSEC cont…
Various sectors of sex industry• Prostituted • Pornography • Sold into marriage• Prostituted to travelers
Different levels of CSECDifferent levels of CSEC
• Individuals at all levels - club owner - taxi driver - teacher - parent• Organized gangs/syndicates• Criminals and criminal networks
Who are responsible for Who are responsible for CSEC of childrenCSEC of children
Who are responsible for Who are responsible for CSEC of childrenCSEC of children
We young people have identified the following challenges…
Stop all practices of commercial sexual exploitation of children
• Destroy all child trafficking networks and syndicates• Put preventative measures in place• Establish support structures for survivors• Ensure effective implementation of laws• Make sure that child protection authorities enforce
such legislation• Ensure adequate and effective sentencing of
offenders
Challenges in the fight Challenges in the fight against CSECagainst CSEC
Challenges in the fight Challenges in the fight against CSECagainst CSEC
Survivors of CSEC need to receive adequate support to help with recovery. They need support in the healing process and their re-integration into society in the form of:
• Counselling from professionals and peers• Adequately trained polices, legal enforcers and
all other professionals dealing directly with children
• A safe-way house• Educational and vocational training• Skills development
The needs of child The needs of child survivorssurvivors
The needs of child The needs of child survivorssurvivors
• Young people have active role to play• Empowerment• Protection• International children’s day to fight CSEC• Education• Healing process• Focal database• Focus on demand side• Harmonization of legislation and co-operation• Strong action against corruption• Shared mechanisms that provide info about
CSEC• Action from Government
RecommendationsRecommendationsRecommendationsRecommendations
• Although CSEC is rife in our country we have to acknowledge and applaud the work that young people have done.
• Work has to start at grassroots.• Need for young people to be motivated
and mobilised• Young people are the best
communicators to their peers
ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion
“Child and youth prostitution is a reflection of the disease in society’s soul. Many of us disappear without a trace. No one knows what happens to us when we die. A child is murdered and no one cares because she is a prostitute. Society’s hands are just as bloody as the guy who did it.”
“We are responsible for our children and young people – yet the issue is not ours alone. Governments, communities and society as a whole must be held accountable for the sexual exploitation of our children and youth”