ECPAT International is a global network dedicated to eliminating the commercial sexual exploitation of children or CSEC. There are now 73 groups in 67 countries in the ECPAT network. The International Secretariat is based in Bangkok, Thailand.

ECPAT’s original name End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism was changed in 1996 to End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking in Children for sexual purposes, reflecting the organisation’s geographic expansion and broader mandate.

The ECPAT network is composed of the ECPAT groups who are its driving force. Every 3 years they meet as the International Assembly which is the highest decision making body of the organisation. The International Board, composed of 8 representatives from all continents, and an independent Chairperson, are elected at the Assembly and normally serve for three years. The International Secretariat is the administrative and co-ordinating unit of ECPAT International.

In 1996, the ECPAT network consisted of 17 groups. By 1999, the network had grown to 53 groups. Today, the distribution of ECPAT groups is as follows: Africa: 13 groups; Middle East & North Africa (MENA): 2 groups; Americas: 13 groups; East Asia: 11 groups; the Pacific: 3 groups; South Asia: 8 groups; Europe & the CIS: 23 groups.

ECPAT groups are very diverse. Some are large coalitions of NGOs, some are small groups composed of individuals. Some have extensive financial and personnel resources; others have only a few and function with volunteers on a part-time basis. Some groups function at national level, others at a grassroots local level. Some have activities covering a wide range of CSEC issues while others concentrate on one aspect only. Other informal entities, such as ECPAT Europe, a regional grouping of Western European members, and key individuals play a significant role in the functioning of the movement.

Common Objectives

Despite its wide diversity, the ECPAT network works towards the following broad common objectives:

Monitoring Activities are a priority for the ECPAT network. Country specific information provided by ECPAT groups and partners is an essential component which complements and enriches the analysis and assessment of progress in implementing both the Stockholm Agenda and the Yokohama Global Commitment. ECPAT’s monitoring reinforces the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and assists Governments in living up to their commitments to children. Each year the network produces and distributes a report that monitors the implementation of the Agenda for Action. Since 2001 a unique database containing this information has been available through ECPAT International’s website.

Developing the ECPAT Network
Not only is the network growing as ECPAT makes contact with more groups around the world - Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Pacific and the Middle East - so is the scope of the work.

The work being done by ECPAT groups includes raising awareness about child sex tourism and child pornography, protecting children at risk from prostitution, promoting new legislation, paedophile registers and prosecution, operating shelters for street children and caring for child victims.

Networking activities of the Secretariat include visits to analyse the situation of CSEC in each region and to identify organisations and agencies working to combat it. Following most of these visits, meetings are organised with workshops aimed at strengthening groups’ capacities.

In 1999 ECPAT helped groups in Central America to develop National Plans of Action. In South America, ECPAT co-hosted a meeting in 2000 to promote the Agenda for Action and to strengthen the capacities of groups. In 2001, ECPAT organised multi disciplinary seminars in eight countries in Eastern Europe with the aim of extending the network and increasing the groups’ capacity to combat sexual exploitation of children in that region. Three consultations were held in Africa over a 16 month period: one each in the Western, Eastern and Southern sub-regions. Others are planned for North Africa as well as the Middle East, Pacific Island nations and Latin America in 2003.

Several regional meetings are initiated by the network itself. The European groups – from both the East and West - have often assembled to discuss regional strategies.

In 2001, ECPAT Taiwan convened a meeting of all ECPAT groups in the Asia Pacific region. It was fitting that one of the four founding members would take on the role of host and create a venue for strengthening the network where it began over ten year earlier. In her welcome address Ruth Kao, Chairperson of ECPAT Taiwan, stated that it [the meeting] offered a “ …rare opportunity to get together and exchange views on issues of common concern …”.

Combating Child Sex Tourism
Although ECPAT was launched as a campaign to fight child sex tourism, establishing a relationship with the tourism industry proved difficult at the start. ECPAT groups were often regarded with suspicion and sometimes accused of conducting a campaign against the tourism industry.

The Universal Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations (UFTAA), the largest travel agent association in the world, changed that. Its members had become concerned about the growth of child prostitution and saw the need to play a more active role in combating it.

A statement from UFTAA’s General Assembly held in Malta in November 1993 pledged to combat the prostitution of children related to so-called “sex tourism”, and to give “every assistance to the various organisations, campaigns and charitable associations concerned with the welfare of child victims of “sex tourism” to help restore the dignity, physical and mental health of such children.”

Many other tourism organisations, such as the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) followed UFTAA’s lead. The WTO was asked to convene an Expert Group on Sex Tourism which ECPAT would attend. This group evolved into the Child Prostitution and Tourism Watch Task Force in 1997 and continues to provide a forum for sharing information and campaigning against child sex tourism.

ECPAT was chosen to be the NGO representative on the Executive Committee of the Task Force, which met for the first time in 2001.

Preventing Child Pornography on the Internet
Bringing the issue of child pornography to the public’s attention has been one of ECPAT’s major achievements. ECPAT responded early to the problems brought on by this new communications tool, and together with Interpol organised an ‘experts’ meeting in 1998.

In 1999, ECPAT joined with Beyond Borders (an ECPAT affiliate group) and others to intervene in the courts on the issue of the rights of children guaranteed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In 2002, ECPAT Switzerland and the Lobby for Children Switzerland organised an international Congress on the legal aspects of this issue. It received support from the Swiss authorities and other companies and foundations. The Congress closed with the unanimous approval of a seven-point resolution.

When it comes to finding child pornography on line, downloading it and then giving it to strangers met in chatrooms, there is no such thing as an amateur child pornographer and no flimsy explanation of innocence is believable.”

Rosalind Prober, President of Beyond Borders

Viewing child pornography on the Internet is neither an anonymous nor a specially hidden act…using Internet for child abuse purposes in one’s private home ... will be uncovered as crimes in public spheres

Katrin Hartmann, Executive Director of ECPAT Switzerland

Through its campaigns at national, regional and international level, ECPAT has made the world realise that child pornography cannot be reduced to a question of freedom of speech. ECPAT takes the stand that every pornographic image of a child is evidence of the sexual exploitation of that child and hence evidence of a crime.

ECPAT groups are active in raising awareness, creating and running hot lines, encouraging codes of conduct and promoting the safe use of the Internet.

A guidebook called “Protecting Children Online” was published by the Secretariat and translated into several languages. The Secretariat has also begun a Safety For Children Online project which will lead to the development of curriculum for school teachers.

Trafficking in Children
Trafficking in women and children has emerged as an issue of global concern in recent years: facilitated by porous borders and advanced communication technologies, it has become increasingly transnational in scope and highly lucrative.

Research on trafficking has been undertaken by the ECPAT Europe Law Enforcement Group which documents the movement of children from eastern to western Europe. This is the first stage of a longer term programme on trafficking which will include campaigning and training.

Another example is the research conducted in six countries in Latin America during 2000 and 2001 by ECPAT and Casa Alianza, an Honorary Member of the network. The research provided an innovative methodology which can be applied elsewhere.

The results show the extent and nature of trafficking in the region, identifies existing networks and provides profiles of the exploiters. It also identifies gaps in legislation, as well as problems with law enforcement, and a lack of sensitivity on the part of police and judicial personnel towards children affected by commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking. As follow up to the research ECPAT will begin a three year awareness-raising project primarily aimed at this sector, but also reaching health and education specialists, as well as the general public. Training materials for police and judicial personnel will be developed which include norms for child-friendly legal procedures, norms for the investigation of sexual offences against children, norms for the identification and treatment of trafficked children and procedures in repatriation and reintegration.

Training Care-givers
Some ECPAT members have prevention and protection programmes as well as ones offering recovery and reintegration that provide direct services to children who are victims of CSEC or those at risk. Many have developed high standards in providing care services and protecting children in care. The Secretariat is developing a “Good Practices” series based on the work of these members and other organisations.

The Secretariat has produced a guide for training care-givers to look after children who have been sexually exploited, as well as self study materials for organisations which do not have the resources or opportunity to provide training. The materials have been adapted and collated from the ideas and experiences from various sources from both within the network and other organisations. The materials have been field-tested in Asia, East Africa and Eastern Europe. They have recently been translated in to French for use in West Africa.

The training does not provide a simple prescription for the trauma which child victims of sexual exploitation experience. Through participatory exercises, those who attend are asked to explore the issues and come up with their own ideas for adapting their services to reflect the particular needs of these children. It is hoped that those who have received training will feel confident enough to respond to the challenge of this work. 

Law Enforcement and Best Law Practices
ECPAT circulates information and provides expert advice on the use of extraterritorial jurisdiction to find and punish child sex offenders who commit crimes in a country other than their own. ECPAT also promotes improvements in legislation and in legal procedures as well as the introduction of special legislation where there was no such jurisdiction operating in favour of children.

ECPAT national groups work with their national police forces in several countries in a spirit of mutual respect and co-operation and with agreed procedures for bringing child abusers to justice. ECPAT has been influential in promoting the use of the Liaison Officer system as a method of tracking paedophile sex offenders in countries where such officers are based.

A former police officer who had worked with ECPAT from 1995 to 1998 developed a handbook on investigating child sexual offences. The handbook was field tested in Cambodia and Tanzania. Its value is that it can be adapted for use in any country, and addresses the needs of the ordinary ‘cop’.

Young People’s Participation
ECPAT work has taught us that children and young people are best placed, not only to speak about their experiences, but to work on finding solutions to the problems and challenges affecting their lives.

From the outset, ECPAT’s aim has been to encourage, coordinate and support integrating children and young people’s participation into the ECPAT movement.

A representative of young people was invited to attend Board meetings as part of the process leading up to electing a young person to the Board of ECPAT International. Zeenith Ebrahim from South Africa attended the meeting in March 2002. In the conclusion to her report she says:.

... I believe attending the meeting has given me some insight into the extent of the benefits that can be derived from an organisation like ECPAT collaborating with young people on such a high decision making level.

For the young person elected, I have no doubt that the experience will be one of the most enriching experiences they have experienced thus far. From an organisational point of view, I think the addition of ayoung person to the team provides a fresh perspective, free of any political organisational technicalities that adults sometimes tend to carry with them.

Zeenith Ebrahim

The Youth Coordinator, based in the Secretariat, has the important task of strengthening and developing the existing network of young people and their participation at all levels of ECPAT

Education and Communication
The more people know about CSEC, the greater the chances of eradicating it. Public understanding of the issue contributes to changing attitudes towards children which is a key to the problem in many countries. Increasing public awareness results in increased resources and energies to fight CSEC as well as stimulating public pressure for government action.

Staff at the Secretariat play an important role in researching, writing, compiling and publishing ECPAT reports, newsletters and other publications, most of which is available through the website. Many groups in the network publish their own reports and newsletters as well.

ECPAT considers education of young people a key component in preventing sexual exploitation of children. Education gives children vital knowledge and skills to make wise and informed choices throughout their lives.

From 1998-2000, ECPAT managed a Prevention Project against child prostitution in Northern Thailand with funds donated by the Finnish people (through Taksvarkki ry Dagsvereke). This project supported local NGOs working with children at risk in hill tribe villages, as well as lowland Thais and street children.

Through activities such as school sponsorship, informal education, vocational training, and income generation assistance where appropriate, the children were given alternatives to entering the commercial sex industry. All projects had a community focus in that they are trying to influence the attitudes and behaviour of parents and villagers.

The project provides training to adult facilitators including teachers, social workers, and youth leaders with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the partners beyond the life of the project.

This project provides a model for other organisations and governments wishing to set up a similar project. The lessons learned from the first three years were carefully documented so that ECPAT can share a wealth of experience on the implementation of grass-roots prevention projects.

The second phase of the project got under way in March of 2001. This phase is being managed by the ECPAT Foundation in Thailand, established by ECPAT in 1999 to end CSEC.