Ending the Silence on Child Sexual Exploitation

In this episode, we're sharing three stories of how travel and tourism businesses in Bolivia, with help from ECPAT Bolivia, have been working to protect children from sexual exploitation.

Edit and voice over: Magdalena Mair

As ECPAT reaches 30 years on the 5th of May 2020, the reality is that the end of the sexual exploitation of children remains unfinished business. This year certainly marks a major milestone in ECPAT’s history and provides a moment to remember and to celebrate. However, this is not a time to rest. As ECPAT enters a new chapter of our history, we are reminded of the determination of our founders and the incredible power of collective action all across the globe.

This is the story of ECPAT International.

Voice over and edits: Magdalena Mair

The Middle East and North Africa region is currently considered one of the most unstable areas in the world. There are ongoing conflicts and political tensions in six countries: Syria, the State of Palestine, Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Sudan, and political unrest continues in others. These are extraordinarily dangerous situations for vulnerable children. For example, sexual violence and exploitation can be used as a tactic of war. It also creates extreme economic hardship and limits educational and work opportunities–pushing vulnerable families and children into danger. 

Voice over and edit: Magdalena Mair 

ecpat.org/mena

Child marriage is a product of cultural, social, and religious beliefs and practices intertwined with economic hardships, political instability, conflict and displacement. Poor girls, girls from rural communities or conflict-affected countries, and out-of-school girls are especially vulnerable to child marriage in the Middle East and North Africa.

www.ecpat.org/mena

At very broad levels, boys are expected to be tough and dominant while girls are expected to be submissive and protect their ‘purity’ and virginity. Taboos around discussing sex and sexuality in the Middle East and North Africa limit opportunities to improve awareness and create protective strategies. 

www.ecpat.org/mena

ECPAT International's new research highlights some of the biggest issues in the Middle East and North Africa; the sexual exploitation of children in war and conflict, through child marriages, and as influenced by complex gender norms. To understand the possibilities for change, we will give you some context to the realities of people in 19 countries in the Middle East and North Africa are facing in this episode. Part 1 out of 4. 

www.ecpat.org/mena

In this episode, we will go through the linkages between the coronavirus and child sexual exploitation. As the world responds to COVID-19, we see that push factors that facilitate or lead to sexual exploitation of children are expected to intensify. According to ECPAT members across the world, restrictions imposed by governments to curb the virus heavily impact on children.

ecpat.org/covid19

Today, we're telling you what we know about the sexual exploitation of children in Turkey. For example, in 2017, major protests occurred in Turkey after the proposal of a bill that would have postponed the sentences of child sex offenders if they married their victims. In response to the outrage, the bill was withdrawn, but in January 2020 the government announced plans for a similar new bill to be introduced.

www.ecpat.org/turkey

Part 1/2. Today, Thailand is not only a paradise for backpackers and honeymooners but a key destination country for migrant workers, human trafficking and forced labour. Estimations say that Thailand is home to about 610,000 human trafficking victims. Many are children trafficked for multiple reasons, but the trafficking of children for sexual exploitation continues to be one of the most common purposes.

Story in partnership with Diakonia Sweden and ECPAT Sweden.

Read more at ecpat.org/thailand

नेपालमा विद्यमान बाल यौन शोषणबारे तपाईँलाई के कस्तो जानकारी छ ? बाल यौन दुव्र्यवहार लाइभ स्ट्रीमिङ अपराधीकरण गरिएको छैन भन्ने तपाईँलाई जानकारी छ ? यस्तै आर्थिक कठिनाईबाट छुट्कारा पाएर बाँच्न परिवारहंरुले छोरीको विवाह गरीदिएको ? आज हामी तपाईँहरुलाई हाम्रो जानकारीमा रहेका सबै कुरा बताउँछौं । 

ecpat.exposure.co/nepali