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: info@molo.org.zaEmail: info@molo.org.za

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 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

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

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

• 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

RecommendationsRecommendations

• 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

ConclusionConclusion

“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”