Second World Congress, Yokoham, Japan

Funders: AusAID, World Vision International, Asian Partnership for Human Development (APHD), UNICEF-EAPRO, SEAFILD, Kinderpostzegels, Bread for the World, UNICEF New York, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan), SECOURS CATHOLIQUE, General Funds

Total Expenditures: 321,561 USD

The Second World Congress on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, hosted by the Japanese Government in association with the Prefecture of Yokohama, took place in Yokohama, 17 to 20 December 2001. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, ECPAT International, UNICEF and the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child were the organizing partners, echoing the partnership format of the first Congress.

The objectives of the Second World Congress, attended by 3,000 delegates, were to: enhance political commitment to the implementation of the Agenda for Action adopted at the First World Congress; review progress in the implementation of the Agenda; share expertise and good practices; identify main problem areas and/or gaps in the fight against commercial sexual exploitation of children; and strengthen the follow-up process of the World Congress.

One of the main outcomes of the Congress was the recommitment to the Stockholm Agenda for Action in the Yokohama Global Commitment 2001. By virtue of this recommitment, coupled with the attendance of representatives of 35 states who did not participate in the first Congress, the number of states committed under the Agenda for Action now totals 159.

Documentation prepared prior to the Congress included a series of twelve briefing notes and six theme papers. In addition, a number of regional consultations took place in the previous months, enabling governments, non-governmental organisations and inter-governmental agencies to prepare for the Yokohama meeting.

Each regional consultation produced a document outlining a common position that would guide future direction in their efforts to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children. All were submitted to the Chair at the Congress and are annexed to the final outcomes document of the Congress.

This document, the Yokohama Global Commitment 2001 was negotiated between governments during the week and adopted in consensus. A number of delegations chose to add explanatory statements to it, and while these additions develop certain viewpoints of countries and regions, they are all endorsing the Yokohama Commitment.

Speakers at the opening ceremony were H.E. Ms Makiko Tanaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs Japan; H.I.H. Princess Takamodo of Japan; Queen Silvia of Sweden; and the Mayor of the host city. Keynote speeches at the opening session were delivered by: H.E. Ms Mayumi Moriyama, Minister of Justice, Japan; Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, UNICEF; Jo de Linde, Chairperson, ECPAT International; Ms Cherry Kingsley, NGO Group on the Convention of the Rights of the Child; and three youth participants.

The Report on the Yokohama Congress was written by the General Rapporteur, Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand, and an oral summary was delivered in the plenary session on the final day of the Congress. A final appeal by the youth participants was also delivered at the closing session.

Through the Yokohama Congress, follow-up to the First World Congress has been strengthened, particularly with regard to monitoring processes. Interest was expressed by governmental bodies to take part in such processes on a regional level in East Asia/Pacific as well as in Europe.

UN ESCAP, UNICEF and ECPAT have started working together to monitor the implementation of the Stockholm Agenda for Action in East Asia and the Pacific region.