A wide range of individuals and groups contribute to the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

In addition to the child sex offender, persons involved in the commercial sexual exploitation of children may include family members, community leaders, the private sector and organised criminal networks.

eception is most often involved; however, some parents knowingly sell their children to brothel owners or traffickers. Poverty is one reason, but addiction to drugs, the need to conceal incest in the family, discrimination against girl children, and materialistic greed are others. Other family members such as cousins or aunts, friends or neighbours may act on behalf of agents for a small fee and persuade the child to enter the sex trade or lure them away from their homes.

In some countries, community leaders may be indirectly or directly involved. These leaders are aware of agents recruiting in their village, but ignore them in order to receive their share of the money. Non governmental organisations in Nepal are countering this by establishing a community surveillance system, mobilising over 13,000 local women, and involving school teachers and local authorities.

The most visible form of child sexual exploitation is street prostitution. Much of the child sex industry, however, is conducted in business establishments such as restaurants, karaoke bars, clubs, massage parlours as well as in hotels and private apartments. 'Recruiters' are often former sex workers. Once in the sex trade, some children are controlled by pimps (perhaps an employee of the above mentioned businesses, tour operators or taxi drivers), and others act independently.

More and more it is becoming apparent that organised criminal networks take part in procuring and channelling vulnerable young women and children toward commercial sexual exploitation and in perpetuating such exploitation. The reasons are clear: the profits are substantial. It has been estimated that trafficking for prostitution, controlled and regulated by organized crime rings from the former Soviet Union, is a multi million dollar industry in Israel alone.

Well known organised criminal networks are the Chinese and Vietnamese Triads, the Japanese Yakuza, the South American cartels, and the Italian and Russian mafias. According to the International Organization for Migration, there is a trend towards intercontinental strategic alliances between these networks as well as collaboration with local networks. These alliances facilitate the provision of transport, 'safe houses', local contacts and documentation.

Organised criminal networks use intimidation and violence as a means to control both the women and children who are being trafficked, as well as those who are attempting to address the issue. For example, while there is a significant and growing problem of trafficking in children for sexual purposes from, to and through Albania, child care organisations are hesitant to establish a centre for victims from fear of reprisals from the Albanian 'mafia'.

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime was adopted in Palermo, Italy in December, 2000. It is supplemented by a Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children.

This protocol combines traditional crime control measures to investigate, prosecute and punish offenders with specific measures to protect trafficked persons, such as appropriate housing, economic assistance, psychological, medical and legal support. It calls for prevention efforts, including the provision of information and education to potential victims, officials and the general public. The protocol also calls for greater international cooperation with regard to judicial cooperation, mutual assistance in criminal matters, extradition, law enforcement cooperation, witness protection and technical assistance.