World Congress Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents

November 25-28 2008 at the Riocentro Exhibition and Convention Centre, located in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The goal of the convention is for ''The World Congress III will mobilize heads of State, government officials, experts and thousands of activists to move forward the global agenda to stop the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. The previous two Congresses took place in Stockholm (1996) and Yokohama(2001)''.

The article from UNICEF.org explains that many studies indicate that the sexual explotation of children and adolescents is increasing. One study is the 'UN Study on Violence Against Children'. The study concluds that violence against children is happening everywhere, in every country and society and across all social groups, everyday. Extreme violence hits the headlines but children experience daily repeated small acts of violence by the people they know and trust. Violence against children includes physical violence, psychological violence such as insults and humiliation, discrimination, neglect and maltreatment. All though the consequences vary according to the severity of the actions the long term results for children are very often grave and damagaing.
Some statistics on the National Center for Missing & Exploited indicate that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized before adulthood. Another statisc demonstrates:

• Approximately one in seven youth online (10 to 17-years-old) received a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet.
• Four percent (4%) received an aggressive sexual solicitation - a solicitor who asked to meet them somewhere; called them on the telephone; or sent them offline mail, money, or gifts.
• Thirty-four percent (34%) had an unwanted exposure to sexual material -- pictures of naked people or people having sex.
• Twenty-seven percent (27%) of the youth who encountered unwanted sexual material told a parent or guardian. If the encounter was defined as distressing - episodes that made them feel very or extremely upset or afraid - forty-two percent (42%) told a parent or guardian.

These percentages are way too high, it’s unacceptable. I’m feeling reassured that there are some countries out there taking a stand and trying to prevent sexual exploitation.

The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.
Walt Disney 

http://www.unviolencestudy.org/
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_45679.html
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2810#6