Original subtitles

Hello and Welcome to this module on the sexual Exploitation Of Children.

My name is Netsky and I'm the deputy executive director.

Of Programs of Expats International.

It's a pleasure for me today to guide you through this module.

So far you've heard about child rights.

And violence against children and its connections to the topic of sexual exploitation.

And also, you learned why it's so important to use adequate terminology.

Today, we will dive more into depth.

On sexual Exploitation of children and to highlight what you need to know

as a professional for the work with child victims or presumed Child victims of Sexual exploitation.

So how will this module be shaped? First, I'm going to define What sexual Exploitation means

and what manifestations it Can take

Then we will take a very brief look at the history of the sexual exploitation of children

Understand Why it is so important for the international community to recognize the sexual exploitation of children as a concept

and as my last point, I will guide you through Ten basic principles which are relevant.

For Professionals Working directly with Victims of Sexual Exploitation of children.

It's good to remember Those when you then listen to My fellow colleagues

who will teach you about the interlinkages of sex manifestations

About the impact that sexual exploitation Has on a child.

Let's start with a short recap on sexual exploitation.

A child Can become a victim of sexual exploitation of children when he takes part in a sexual activity

in Exchange for something And this Can be from a third Party

the perpetrator, or by the child himself Or herself.

Exploitation in this context is a key term as it marks The difference.

To child sexual abuse or other forms of sexual Violence against children.

We can say that the sexual exploitation of children mostly

appears in five manifestations.

We see sexual exploitation of children in digital Environments Or Online.

For Example, through the exchange of Child sexual exploitation material.

We see the sexual exploitation of children in prostitution through prostitution.

We see sex exploitation In the context of travel and tourism.

This can be both Internationally and domestically.

We see sexual exploitation in Form of child trafficking for sexual purposes

and also as a form of child-early or forced marriages.

That enables Sexual exploitation.

This means Where adults Benefit financially from contracting an under-aged Union.

You will hear throughout this course that those manifestations

are not strictly to be divided

because the lines in the linkages increasingly Become Blurred.

Because the greater mobility of People, the higher Importance Of the Internet

and communication tools, really make those connections stronger.

Also Between manifestations So one and the Same child can Become multiple times victims.

Also of Multiple manifestations Of sexual exploitation.

Sexual exploitation by Far is not a new phenomenon.

But when has been Recognized As a Problem That requires Joint solutions.

In the early nineties Academic research was Presented at a conference in Chiang Mai Thailand

for the first time showing the negative impact on Societies of sexual exploitation.

In the context of travel and tourism.

Those results were just so impactful that the participants of this conference spontaneously gathered Together

and founded a campaign against this. And the campaign.

Was called Experts in Child Prostitution.

Innovation, Tourism.

Very briefly, it became clear it's not only the scope of Asia, it's for sure.

Not only.The manifestation of prostitution.

And definitively we should not call it Prostitution in this context.

So the acronym stayed, but its meaning, Content, and reach.

Expanded throughout The year to today.

A milestone for the recognition Of sexual Exploitation as an old form of violence against children.

And with all its additional layers and complexities, was the first World Congress

on commercial Sexual Exploitation of children in Stockholm and Sweden in the year 1996.

As a result, namely through the Stockholm Declaration, the agenda For Action.

Was an overwhelming commitment of 119 governments.

To fight the sexual Exploitation of children.

But the groundbreaking News about that was they realized that they Cannot do this alone.

They need partners from law enforcement private sector and civil society.

This really has set the foundation for the idea of shared responsibility between countries

of Origin and countries of destination As well as necessity.

For international and multidisciplinary cooperation in this Field

which we to this day see as the key Requirement in our Efforts to protect children.

And to bring offenders To justice.

Showing me my fellow lecturers will share their long experiences with you

working directly with children, with experiences of sexual. Exploitation and it's all forms.

But before we go into those details, I would like to share with You ten basic Principles.

As a mindset For further learning.

First When we say child, we mean every person below the age of 18.

The child Must always be treated as a victim, regardless of its age or in its attitude

to What happens. Any form of transaction to obtain Sexual services from the child

even with the child's consent, is a criminal act of the involved adult because

no child ever Can Consent to its own exploitation.

Obviously, it's not always easy to identify all victims of sexual exploitation

or other forms of exploitation, specifically involved.In criminal acts like.

Shoplifting or selling Drugs If you as a professional have Suspicion.

About an ongoing exploitation of a child, you must act.

We know that those Cases are often quite complex and complicated.

The process is not an easy one to start.

But turning a blind eye out of the fear of doing something Wrong.

Really leads to ongoing violence Against this child and possibly new victims.

The child has the right to psychosocial support From the moment of its identification.

As long as it's required.

And this applies before And After possible criminal proceedings.

Children also have the right to Know what is happening with And them.

After contacting support services for the police or for medical observation

or psychological or any other form of support.

When giving explanations to the child about each step

please use age-appropriate language that is Understandable To the child.

The opinion of the child should be taken into consideration when making decisions.

This will help the child to cope with the Feeling of helplessness.

And to regain control over his life.

We know from experience that children don't quite understand what's Going on.

And don't agree necessarily with the steps proposed To them

because they were not well explained, that it's for their own benefit and well-being.

We run the risk of Children Removing themselves from childcare facilities.

So in other words, children, of course, run away if they don't feel safe

and don't see the benefit of being within the support system.

Talking about child care facilities.

It is very necessary that all shelters, safe houses, and other childcare facilities

develop And implement a child protection Policy if not required by law.

Already this includes also training for All Employees on mechanisms.

To apply in case something happens within The facility.

And it is very Highly recommended not to Start such a process

Only when something Happens.

You should better see this as part of your prevention measures.

There is no one-fit solution.

Any step of the support And protection system must be based on the needs assessment

of Each child, individually Sexual abuse and exploitation of children are preventable crimes.

This means systematic preventive work with children themselves, with parents, caregivers, teachers, professionals, and Criminals.

And society as a whole is needed.

And the last and very important point is that cooperation is key, but not individual.

And no single institution can protect the child alone.

We must Cooperate.

We must work together.