After many years of follow-up after the World Congress II held in Yokohama in 2001, the Government of Brazil officially announced in November 2007that it will host the World Congress III.
What is the official title of the World Congress III?
III Congresso Mundial sobre Enfrentamento à Exploração Sexual de Crianças e Adolescentes.
English translation: World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents.
When and where will the World Congress III be held?
Venue: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date: 25-28 November, 2008
Official Host: Government of Brazil
Why is it important to organise World Congresses against the sexual exploitation of children?
• World Congresses are important events that draw international attention to the serious issue of commercial sexual exploitation of children.;
• These important global events, through their preparation processes at national, regional and international levels contribute significantly towards the worldwide movement against sexual exploitation; and
• World Congresses assist governments and civil society in becoming more responsible in addressing this issue.
Following are some important outcomes of the past World Congresses.
First World Congress 1996:
• First global meeting to address the growing problem of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC).
• This Congress brought worldwide recognition that sexual exploitation is happening all over the worldand all children are at-risk of abuss
• The Congress brought about a commitment from the Governments and civil Society organisations to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation of children through their commitment on the Stockholm Agenda for Action.
Second World Congress in 2001:
• To report back on the progress in addressing this issue from the Governments and NGOs
• To discuss emerging trends and new types of CSEC in various regions
• To commit to conduct more research on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and design appropriate interventions for the prevention of CSEC and to protect the children who have been victims of CSEC.
• Recognition that Child and youth participation has an important part in the fight against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.
Mid-Term Reviews (MTRs) in 2004-2005:
MTRs were held to discuss progress in addressing the sexual exploitation of children since the Yokohama Congress in 2001. Governments, NGOs and Young People, analyzed the progress based on their commitments to the Stockholm Agenda for Action in 1996 and the Yokohama Commitment in 2001.
The World Congress III an important opportunity to renew the global commitments made to fight against sexual exploitation of children, such as:
• Gathering international will and support against sexual exploitation of children;
• Assessing progress and review emerging trends in order to adjust and refine conceptual and practical tools to fight CSEC at the global/local levels; and
• Define measurable targets and specific goals with clear indicators to address this grave problem
Who is organizing the World Congress III?
Members of the Central Organizing Committee (COC):
• Government of Brazil
• UNICEF Brazil and International
• ECPAT International
• NGO Group on the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC)
• Government of Japan (as the past host of the World Congress II)
• Government of Sweden (as the past host of the World Congress I)
The main tasks of the Central Organizing Committee are to lead the overall process for organising for the World Congress III and to help setting up Congress Structures, Thematic Issues, Selection of Participants and so on.
There are also Standing Commissions that have been set to assist with:
• Commission for global mobilisation and communication
• Commission for international relations
• Commission for resource mobilisation
• Commission for participation of children and adolescents
• Commission for selection of thematic and other specialists
• Commission on Children and Adolescent Participation
Committees are also being set up to help assist with the organisation process for the World Congress III such as:
• Logistics Committee at the national level to manage the Congress (including travel, hospitality, security, etc.)
• Communications Committee
Other Groups of the Central Organizing Committee are:
Specialists/ Expert groups
Aid in the development of the content and Congress III preparation and identifies technical specialists and speakers to prepare background papers and other relevant information including child-friendly processes.
The Drafting Group:
Under the guidance of the Rapporteur, the drafting group will work on drafting Congress documents.
What are the Thematic Issues/Topics to be discussed at the World Congress III?
The Opening Session will focus on guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents to protection against sexual exploitation and creating a systematic approach to achieve this goal.
Thematic Sessions of the Congress III are:
1) Forms of sexual exploitation and its new picture (Trafficking of children for sexual exploitation, sexual exploitation of children in prostitution and tourism, paedophilia and pornography, internet crimes and new technology);
2) Legal framework and liability (Revision of the law on sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, implementation of the Optional Protocol, impunity and responsibility, procedures for special investigation);
3) Integrated inter-agency policies (Building of inter-sector public policies, cooperation between different government levels, integration with the justice system, role of the training agencies);
4) Initiatives of social responsibility (the market and self-regulation of the private sector, the role of global financial systems and new initiatives in the promotion of the rights, good business practices, private initiative and public policies);
5) Strategies for international cooperation (Multilateral and regional mechanisms for fighting sexual exploitation for children and adolescents, cross bordering crimes and systems of information, experience of international agencies and organizations, monitoring and evaluating progress in relation to previous Congresses).
How did the thematic issues/topics get decided?
ECPAT International since the Mid-Term Reviews (MTRs) in each of the regions, have been providing various opportunities for discussions and recommendations on the thematic issues for the World Congress III. These have been collected through:
• Online Survey (Consultation) with nearly with ECPAT member organizations in all region; and
• Through discussions with Governments. NGOs, INGOs, UN Agencies and Children and Youth in our National/Regional and International meetings.
What events are taking place in preparation for the World Congress III?
Important event are regularly update through our event calendar on the homepage of ECPAT World Congress III website
IV. Preparatory Meeting for the Children and Adolescents attending the World Congress III
There will be a preparatory meeting organized prior to the World Congress III in order to prepare their participation to the Congress.
Watch this space for more information in the coming days!!!
How can Children and Adolescents get involved in the planning of the World Congress III?
Please visit the section on “How can Children and Adolescents get involved in the World Congress III” and read about our consultation tool which can be found following this link
