Two types of preparatory processes are in place with the aim of generating the broadest possible input to World Congress III:
- Thematic meetings to focus on the five specific topics of the Congress:
Theme 1: New Dimensions of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC);
Theme 2: Legal Frameworks and Enforcement;
Theme 3: Integrated Inter-Sectoral Policies;
Theme 4: Role of the Private Sector and Corporate Social Responsibility;
Theme 5: Strategies for International Cooperation.
- Regional consultations to capture specific experience from regions around the world that impacts and determines the rate, quality of progress and implementation of action in areas that the Congress focuses on. Outcomes from both types of preparatory meetings will be integrated into Congress thematic papers to inform and enrich Congress proceedings.

AUGUST

Title: Children and Young People’s Participation at the EAP Regional Consultation
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Dates: 14-16  August 2008
Lead Agencies and Partners: ECPAT International, International Child Support, Plan International, Save the Children, World Vision
Description: Children will play an important role in the Regional Consultation.  During a two day preparatory meeting, participating young people will have an opportunity to review the program, plans for the WCIII and prepare for their participation at the Regional Consultation. The objectives of Children and Young People’s Participation at the EAP Regional Consultation are:
• To provide an opportunity for children to share their experiences, good practices and models of successful children and adolescent led interventions against sexual exploitation in the region specifically related to the above mentioned 3 Thematic Issues of the EAP Regional Consultation.
• To contribute to the formulation of measurable advocacy targets (specific targets/goals with indicators) for the governments at the regional level and present these at the Regional Preparatory Consultation
• To ensure processes so that the children’s contribution from the regional consultation are incorporated into thematic contributions to the World Congress III
• To select East Asia children representatives to participate at the World Congress III in Rio and establish preparation processes leading up to the WC III
• To ensure follow-up mechanisms (in terms of sharing of outcomes/implementation of the recommendations of the Regional Consultation and the World Congress III) with wider groups of children and young people in the region, and to see follow up institutionalized in relevant organizations, children/youth network and projects in the region
• To strengthen the institutionalization of meaningful CYP participation within the member organizations of the EAP Inter-Agency Group for the Regional Consultation for the World Congress III
Final Recommendations: click here

Title: The East Asia and Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Dates: 18-19 August 2008
Organisers: ECPAT International, UNESCAP, UNICEF
Partners: AusAid, NZ Aid, International Child Support, World Vision, UNIFEM, Plan Asia, ILO, Caritas Australia, Save the Children and Asian Development Bank
Description: The objectives of the meeting is to highlight and examine issues on commercial sexual exploitation of children that are specific to this region, examine what works in different parts of the region and identify time-bound goals for addressing commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). The Congress themes that receive focus and analysis at this meeting are Prostitution of Children and its relation to gender dynamics, child trafficking for sexual purposes and its inter-linkages with migration, child sex tourism and its relation with corporations and industry and sexual exploitation of children through Information Communication and Technology. The expected outcomes of the meeting would be a regional overview on the situation of commercial sexual exploitation of children and progress, identification of channels for greater regional/inter-regional/international cooperation on key issues related to commercial sexual exploitation of children and regional agreement on a proposed set of time-bound goals for addressing CSEC to be submitted to the World Congress III. The East Asia and Pacific Children Consultation will be organised on 15-16 August 2008, Bangkok and the child participants will be integrated into the East Asia and Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting on the 18-19 August 2008 to work alongside adult participants.
Agenda: click here
Press Release: click here
ECPAT summary report: click here

Title: Latin American Regional Preparatory Meeting
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dates: 20-21 August 2008
Lead Agencies and Partners: ECPAT International, the Government of Argentina, represented by their Human Rights Secretariat, Save the Children, ILO-IPEC, UNICEF and the Inter-American Institute of the Child
Description: The Regional Preparatory Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean in preparation for the Congress will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 20th and 21st August. The objective of this meeting is to create a space for reflecting and for regional exchange surrounding our efforts, lessons learned, strengths and challenges and the priority themes for our region, while contributing to the World Congress III. The issues to be discussed during the meeting include: manifestations of CSEC, legal framework and enforcement, role of the private sector and national protection systems and monitoring of progress in the region. It is expected that as a result of the meeting, there will be clear goals and a regional articulated strategy for combating CSEC and a monitoring mechanism to follow up on international commitments. The meeting will be conducted in Spanish.
Agenda and Concept Note: click here
Press Release: click here
Declaration by Youth and Adolescents: click here
Summary report from the Argentinian Government: click here

Title: Children and Young People’s Participation (CYPP) in the South Asia Forum’s Regional Preparatory Consultation
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Dates: August 24th-25th, 2008
Description: Children and young people will play an important role in the Regional Consultation. During a two day preparatory meeting, participating young people will have an opportunity to review the program, plans for the WCIII and prepare for their participation at the Regional Consultation. The focus will be on linking up with existing children and youth initiatives in the region to ensure better possibilities of follow-up after the Congress. The aim is for greater representation and substantive participation of a core group of children and youth who are either at-risk or survivors of CSEC and directly involved in advocacy work, rather than having large numbers of children participating from all SAF countries. The objectives of Children and Young People’s Participation at the SAF Regional
Consultation:
• To provide an opportunity for children and young people to share their experiences, good practices and models of successful child and youth-led interventions against sexual exploitation in the region.
• To contribute to the formulation of measurable advocacy targets (specific targets/goals with indicators) for the governments at the regional level and present these at the Regional Preparatory Consultation
• To ensure processes so that the children and young people’s contribution from the regional consultation are incorporated into thematic contributions to the World Congress III
• To select South Asia child and youth representatives to participate at the World Congress III in Rio and establish preparation processes leading up to the WC III
• To ensure follow-up mechanisms (in terms of sharing of outcomes/implementation of the recommendations of the Regional Consultation and the World Congress III) with wider groups of children and young people in the region, and to see follow up institutionalized in relevant organizations, youth network and projects in the region
• To strengthen the institutionalization of meaningful CYP participation within SACG/SAF
Concept Note: click here
Final recommendations: click here

Title: South Asia Regional Preparatory Meeting
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Dates:27 – 29 August 2008
Description: The South Asia Forum (SAF) regional preparatory consultation for the World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents will be convened - at ministries level - by the South Asia Forum Secretariat in co-operation with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare of the Government of Nepal. UN organizations, members of the South Asia Coordinating Group (SACG), NGOs and 15 young people are invited to take part in this regional preparatory consultation.
The conference will focus on the development of a common understanding on the concepts as well as on the challenges and progress in addressing SAF/SACG priority issues for the region and their linkages to sexual exploitation of children and adolescents so that a collective formulation of the goals and targets can be identified and forwarded to the World Congress III against sexual exploitation.
For further information, see the Background Note.
Agenda: click here
Background Note: click here
Press Release: click here
Preliminary recommendations: click here

SEPTEMBER

Title: Europe and Central Asia Regional Preparatory Meeting for the
World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children & Adolescents
Location: ILO Conference Centre, Geneva - Switzerland
Dates: 17-18 September 2008
Lead Agencies and Partners: ECPAT, ILO
Description: The overall goal of the meeting is to derive a set of recommendations for action from the region that can serve as inputs into the World Congress.
1. Examine new challenges and dimensions of commercial sexual exploitation of children and set more targeted strategies and measures to address CSEC, building on current progress;
2. Examine what works in different parts of the region, including good practices and identify channels to facilitate better exchange of experiences;
3. Open channels and secure greater regional/international cooperation on key issues related to CSEC (including cross-border issues) and also inter-regional cooperation;
4. Catalyze a systemic and multi-sectoral approach to guarantee children’s and adolescents’ right to be protected from sexual exploitation; and
5. Identify time-bound goals for each of the themes of the Congress.
Agenda: click here
Press Release: click here

Title: Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting
Location: Dakar , Senegal
Dates: 23 - 25 September 2008 (Children’s Forum, 22 September)
Lead Agencies and Partners: Africa Child Policy Forum, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, CONAFE, ECPAT International, ILO, Plan International, Oak Foundation, Save the Children Sweden, UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) and World Vision.
Description:
Objectives of the Africa Technical Preparation Meeting for the World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents
• Exchange effective approaches to combating sexual exploitation of children in Africa;
• Increase the knowledge base and evidence on forms and causes of sexual exploitation and abuse of children;
• Better understand social norms related to sexuality, gender and childhood/generation and its impact on sexual exploitation and abuse of children in Africa;
• Discuss possible mechanisms to identify, document, and share effective inter-sectoral approaches to prevent and respond to sexual abuse and exploitation of children – including in conflict and post-conflict situations, and
• Support the active participation of a key number of African children and young people in the Africa Technical Preparation Meeting and in preparations for the World Congress III.
Expected Outcomes
• Identification of effective approaches and promising practices in combating the sexual exploitation and abuse of children in different parts of Africa. Identification of mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of experiences across the continent;
• Key areas identified for follow-up in Africa in regard to the themes discussed during the meeting, and
• Potential targets and outcomes identified for Africa to be presented and lobbied for in Brazil.
Press Release: English | French

OCTOBER

Title:  Canada-U.S. Consultation for the World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children & Adolescents
Location: Arlington, Virginia, USA
Dates: 2-3 October 2008
Lead Agencies and Partners: ECPAT USA, Beyond Borders Canada, Shared Hope International
Description: The Canada-U.S. Consultation is designed to bring together experts in critical issues for the protection of children from commercial sexual exploitation and commercial sexual exploitation-related injury for a very specific mission: identify where the region stands in efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation, where to go from here, and how to get there.  The topic areas are: 1) Legislation, 2) Identification of Victims, 3) Restorative Services, 4) Prevention; and 5) Private Sector Role.   The process calls for five three-hour roundtable sessions with four to eight experts in each topic area.  Each roundtable group is charged with creating a detailed plan for overcoming identified obstacles to protecting children from CSEC in the region. The discussions at the Consultation are aimed at establishing the current state of affairs in North America and recommending action for progress.  The result of the Consultation will be an Outcome Document to be submitted to the Third World Congress.
Agenda: click here
Final Report: click here

Title: Europe and Central Asia Children and Youth Forum
Location: Dusseldorf, Germany
Dates: 31 October 2008 - 2 November 2008
Description: The inclusion and active participation of children and youth as key stakeholders and actors in the fight against sexual exploitation of children is planned throughout the World Congress and the preparatory processes. In line with the Congress’ long standing commitment to work with children and young people, this meeting will build and expand on the successful involvement of children and young people in activities for combating CSEC. Children and young people (mostly adolescents) will play an important role in the World Congress III and will be provided with various opportunities to feed into the World Congress III processes as active participants.
Agenda: click here
Final recommendations: click here

APRIL

Title:Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children in Tourism
Location: Florence, Italy
Dates: 21-23 April 2008
Lead Agencies and Partners: UN agencies, government representatives, bilateral and multilateral agencies, NGOs. ECPAT network groups
Description: Key findings and recommendations from Innocenti Research Centre research on child trafficking were presented, with an introduction to a broader approach to the theme and to the implementation and monitoring of international standards at regional and international levels. A discussion was held on preventing the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, with good practices and lessons learned on the role of private sector and community-based action for implementing international standards. One full day was devoted to preparing for World Congress III.
Agenda: http://www.unicef-irc.org/worldcongress3/agenda.pdf

JUNE

Title: Children Not For Sale: Protection against Sexual Exploitation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Dates: 10 June 2008
Lead Agencies and Partners: Friedrich Ebert Foundation, UNICEF and ECPAT Germany
Description: The aim of this meeting is to bring the protection of children against sexual exploitation to the forefront of working agendas. The Conference will provide an opportunity for experts to develop joint positions and a working programme towards the World Congress.
Agenda: download [ PDF 85 KB ]

AUGUST

Title: Consultation on Engaging Men and Boys in Ending Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Dates: 4-5 August 2008
Lead Agencies and Partners: ECPAT International, Promundo
Description: The thematic meeting will examine elements that shape the social construction of men and boys’ perceptions and behaviors in relation to sexuality, distilling aspects that contribute to enabling sexual exploitation and sexual violence against children and women. A White Paper prepared by Promundo will be used as a base for the discussions while participants will have an opportunity to share their experience and learning from work with men and boys to identify replicable strategies and programmes for engaging men and boys in ending sexual exploitation and violence against children.  
Registration is now open and closes on 28 July 2008. Click here for the English registration form or Spanish registration form.
Concept note: download [PDF 33KB]

Title: Consultation on Combating Child Abuse Images and Sexual Exploitation of Children Online
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Dates: 14-15 August 2008
Description: The objectives of this meeting are to:
• Share analysis on current research and work addressing child abuse images and sexual exploitation of children online
• Explore the more challenging questions and issues impacting on guarantee of the child’s right to protection in the virtual realm through deliberation on key elements: 
- Understanding dynamics and impact of social interaction in virtual settings and their impact on child protection
- Manifestation of vulnerability & resilience in children’s online interactions: social interventions and therapeutic responses
- Legal and law enforcement responses for child protection online
- The role of the ICT industry in addressing trade in abuse images and sexual exploitation online 
• Propose priority actions and mechanisms to guarantee the right to protection for children in virtual spaces and combat the making and trade of child abuse images for the World Congress III and its follow up action.
Agenda: download [PDF 34KB]

SEPTEMBER

Title: Intra-familial Violence and Sexual Exploitation
Location: Hong Kong
Dates: 7-10 September
Lead Agencies and Partners: ISPCAN and Against Child Abuse
Description: This meeting will be presented as a component of the XVIIth ISPCAN International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect: Towards a Caring and Non-Violent Community: A Child’s Perspective.The thematic issues to be presented at the Symposium in a form of workshop as well as a poster presentation include:
• The Private Sector Response to Child Rights Issues: the fight against CST
• Good Practices on Working with the Private Sector to Combat CST
• Understanding the linkages between different forms of CSEC and CST in East Asia and the Pacific
• Extraterritorial legislation and extradition agreements: essential tools in the fight against CST
Conference papers:
• Lessons Learned and Good Practices on Working with the Private Sector to Combat Child Sex Tourism
and Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation: Download [PDF 357KB]
• Extraterritorial Laws: Why They Are Not Really Working and How They Can be Strengthened: Download [PDF 221KB]
• Understanding the Linkages between Child Sex Tourism and Other Forms of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
in East Asia and the Pacific: Download [PDF 188KB]

Title: Global Expert Thematic Consultation on Corporate Social Responsibility - Business Unusual: Global Consultation on Corporate Social responsibility for World Congress III on against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents
Location: Winnipeg , Canada
Dates: 25-26 September
Lead Agencies and Partners: UNICEF Canada, the Child Welfare League of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, Beyond Borders, the Canadian
Centre for Child Protection and other partners in collaboration with the Central Organizing Committee for the World Congress
Description: This international forum will bring experts together to discuss the role the private sector plays through socially responsible initiatives. Corporate social responsibility is one of the five thematic focuses of the World Congress: the Winnipeg meeting will shape the recommendations and dialogue for this theme at the World Congress and inspire the private sector to expand the exemplary work of industry leaders.

OCTOBER

Title: Legal Frameworks and Enforcement - UNICEF/NGO Group: European Consultation on Legal Frameworks for the Protection of Children and Adolescents
Location: Bern/Zurich, Switzerland
Dates: 13-14 October

Title: Global Experts Consultation
Location: New York, USA
Description: To be announced