The ECPAT International Assembly in November 2011 brought together the world's leading experts on protecting childern from commercial sexual exploitation. The unique opportunity for mutual learning and experience sharing focussed on building global action, commitment and solidarity and involved 200 participants from 75 countries. Presenters included Dr. Najat M'jid Maalla the UN special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography; Ms. Martha Santos Pais, UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Violence Against Children. Mr. Jaap E. Doek, former Chair of the Committe on the Rights of the Child. Sophie Flak from Accor, Ms. Patricia Cartes from Facebook and Christopher Davis from The Body Shop.

The assembly was the largest global gathering of experts on commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) since the proclamation of the Rio de Janeiro and Call to Action to Prevent and Stop Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents in 2008. The Assembly re-confirmed the committment of the ECPAT global network to end CSEC, and set out a strategy for the next three years as a prelude to mid-term monitoring of the Rio Declaration, which has time-bound goals to 2016. Member groups also elected the Board of Trustees who will steward ECPAT International through this important upcoming period.

ECPAT founder Ron O'Grady gave a presentation on the history of the organisation, describing pivotal episodes in its development and the key principles that have united the network since its founding in 1991 as a campaign to End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism, based in Bangkok. Discussions took place on topical areas that affect ECPAT groups around the world. There was an animated discussion of how the ECPAT network can continue to fight CSEC and adapt its approaches where required, to the various new legislative and technological contexts.Panels and discussions groups highlighted good practices and lessons learnt from these grass-roots and country-led initiatives were shared. Several survivors and youth outreach workers shared their stories of escaping the cycle of exploitation and helping their peers to do the same.

In addition, the last two years have seen groups from all over the world join together for ECPAT and The Body Shop's 'Stop Sex Trafficking of the Children and Young People' campaign, which resulted in one of the biggest human trafficking rights petition ever submitted to the UN and changes in the law of at least 12 countries, with the committment to change from several others. Many of these groups shared their experiences and explained how they had made this campaign so successful.

Click here for presentations

ECPAT International Assembly 2011 Reports

En | Es | Fr

The fourth General Assembly of ECPAT International was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 29 November 2008.  The Assembly brought together 180 participants, representing 70 ECPAT groups from all regions of the world. As it was held directly following the World Congress III, the 2008 Assembly gave the ECPAT network an opportunity to reflect on the contributions that its work has made toward progress for protection of children against sexual exploitation worldwide as highlighted by the World Congress. The gathering also reaffirmed its determination to work systematically to meet the challenges identified, refining its strategies and plans and outlining new strategic directions and operational plans. In addition to electing a new Board of Directors, the Assembly also discussed a number of policy issues and directives and presided to confirm members of the ECPAT International Child and Youth Advisory Committee, from where a new youth representative was elected to the Board.  

ECPAT International held its 3rd General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 8-10 September 2005. The Assembly brought together ECPAT groups, experts and partners from across the globe. Almost 200 delegates from more than 60 countries examined how the ECPAT network has developed since the last Assembly, how effective ECPAT is at combating CSEC and agreed on the most effective ways for ECPAT’s future work.

The second General Assembly of ECPAT International was held in Bangkok from 4-7 September 2002. 137 representatives of ECPAT member organisations from 64 countries around the world, along with 78 delegates from UN, academia, the private sector and government and non-government organisations participated.

ECPAT held its first International Assembly in Bangkok in September 1999. There had been no event of this kind since the World Congress in Stockholm, and many people from the ECPAT network met one another for the first time. The Assembly brought together participants from over 50 countries, representing ECPAT groups, as well as observers from other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), representatives from United Nations bodies and other inter-governmental organisations, law enforcement agencies, social workers, funding organisations and researchers.