Every year, up to two million children all over the world are sexually abused for profit :

How can we stop sexual exploitation of children?

The commercial sexual exploitation of children is child sexual abuse in exchange for some sort of payment, either money or favours. Children are directly used for sex and/or used in pornography. The sexual exploitation of children is a serious crime and against the law in every country.

Children may be 'trafficked' - transported to another place, either within or outside their own country, for the purpose of exploitation, such as forced labour or prostitution. Or they may be exploited by an adult who has a continuing abusive relationship with a child, offering rewards, gifts or protection in exchange for sex.

Because the exploitation of children is often hidden, there are no reliable figures about how many children are exploited. But the number is thought to be up to two million a year (International Labour Organization).

Most are girls, but a significant number are boys.

This exploitation happens all over the world: in rich countries and in poor. For example, according to studies: there are between 40,000 and 60,000 children in prostitution in the Taiwan Province of China; 25 per cent of all people in prostitution in Tulear, Madagascar, are children; in the United States, one in five children who use the Internet regularly are approached by strangers for sex; in Mexico, more than 16,000 children are involved in prostitution; in Lithuania, 20 - 50 per cent of people in prostitution are children.

Children as young as 11 are known to work in brothels, and some children between 10 and 12 years old living in out-of-home care have been used to make pornographic films.

Sexual exploitation happens in many different locations, including on the street, in brothels, in private homes, and in tourist facilities, such as hotels.

All commercial sexual exploitation of children involves an abuse of power: adults or other children taking advantage of their greater wealth, status and physical strength.

All sexually exploited children suffer serious physical, psychological and social harm.

The exploitation may involve rape or other physical and mental violence. In addition, children have a high risk of being infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, because young bodies are generally more vulnerable to damage from sex, and because children are often not able to control when and with whom they have sex, or whether a condom is used.

Children who are sexually exploited or abused are victims of a crime. No child can ever be said to have 'chosen' to be sexually exploited or is to blame for what happens to them. Children turn to prostitution when they have no other options.

The solution to the problem must involve a broad range of measures.

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The commercial sexual exploitation of children is child sexual abuse involving some sort of payment. That payment is often not to the children themselves but to someone with power over them.

Commercial sexual exploitation includes both the direct use of children for sex and the use of children in sexual images (pornography). It may also involve the crime of child trafficking - when children are transported to another place, either within or outside their own country, for the purpose of exploitation.

The sexual exploitation of children is a crime in every country, and is forbidden by international law and agreements, including by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child.

Who and where?

Those who sexually abuse and exploit children do not fall into any single category. They may be paedophiles - adults who are sexually attracted to children and will commit abuse to fulfil their own desires.

Or they may be local people or tourists who want casual sex and who do not care about the age of their sex partner. Or they may be adults who have a continuing abusive relationship with a child, exchanging rewards, gifts or protection for sex.

Those who profit from the sexual exploitation of children also fall into many categories. There are those who directly profit, including the traffickers, pimps and pornographers. And those who indirectly benefit: corrupt officers who take bribes, for example, or traders who ignore or encourage the prostitution of children because they believe it brings them more business.

The commercial sexual exploitation of children happens all over the world, in rich nations and in poor. It happens in brothels, on the streets, and in private homes. It happens both to girls and to boys, but mainly girls are targeted.

Because the sexual exploitation of children is often hidden, it is hard to collect statistics. But, the International Labour Organization estimates that upto two million children a year may be victims of this crime.

How and why?

Adults, and sometimes older youth, who abuse and exploit children are taking advantage of their greater wealth, power, status, and perhaps even physical strength.

But there are many underlying factors that also make children vulnerable to exploitation: Poverty, discrimination against girls, family breakdown, sexual abuse, armed conflict, weak legal systems, and political instability, for example.

The sexual abuse of children causes physical, psychological and social harm that can last a lifetime. Children who have been abused may be rejected by their families and communities. They are highly vulnerable to drug addiction, physical violence, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and early pregnancy.

courtesy :UNICEF