It’s Your Move Youth Action Group 1st Floor, 67 Station Rd, Observatory 7925, Cape \town Tel: Fax:

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Young People’s Perspective

Outline 1.Case study 2.Reporting CSEC/ young people 3.Who gets prostituted and sexually exploited 4.Factors that impact on the CSEC 5.Different levels of CSEC 6.Who are responsible for CSEC of children 7.Challenges in the fight against CSEC 8.Recommendations 9.Conclusion

CSEC has recently taken on endemic proportions Trucking routes Child sex rings Used to push drugs and gang operations Prostitution as a means of survival Pornography Reporting CSEC/young people

All children & young people vulnerable Especially those who have run away Also those from stable homes Children pimped by parents Made false promises of work Children are trafficked inside & across SA borders Who gets prostituted and sexually exploited

1.Increase in unemployment 2.Low levels of education 3.Changes in the extended and nuclear family 4.Changes in the religious and cultural beliefs of society 5.Breakdown in family and community support systems 6.Lack of social welfare and protective services for children 7.Lack of effective inestigation, sentencing and prosecution of offenders Factors that impact on the CSEC

8.Increased demand for black children for sexual purposes 9.Changes in the international sex industry 10.Increased demand for sexual acts with younger children 11.Wrong beliefs that children are free from STD’s 12.Wrong beliefs that sex with a virgin will cure STD’s, including HIV & AIDS 13.Relative bargaining power of older sex workers 14.Children are less likely to negotiate terms of exchange Factors that impact on CSEC cont…

Various sectors of sex industry Prostituted Pornography Sold into marriage Prostituted to travelers Different levels of CSEC

Individuals at all levels - club owner - taxi driver - teacher - parent Organized gangs/syndicates Criminals and criminal networks Who are responsible for CSEC of children

We young people have identified the following challenges… Stop all practices of commercial sexual exploitation of children Destroy all child trafficking networks and syndicates Put preventative measures in place Establish support structures for survivors Ensure effective implementation of laws Make sure that child protection authorities enforce such legislation Ensure adequate and effective sentencing of offenders Challenges in the fight against CSEC

Survivors of CSEC need to receive adequate support to help with recovery. They need support in the healing process and their re- integration into society in the form of: Counselling from professionals and peers Adequately trained polices, legal enforcers and all other professionals dealing directly with children A safe-way house Educational and vocational training Skills development The needs of child survivors

Young people have active role to play Empowerment Protection International children’s day to fight CSEC Education Healing process Focal database Focus on demand side Harmonization of legislation and co- operation Strong action against corruption Shared mechanisms that provide info about CSEC Action from Government RecommendationsRecommendations

Although CSEC is rife in our country we have to acknowledge and applaud the work that young people have done. Work has to start at grassroots. Need for young people to be motivated and mobilised Young people are the best communicators to their peers ConclusionConclusion

“Child and youth prostitution is a reflection of the disease in society’s soul. Many of us disappear without a trace. No one knows what happens to us when we die. A child is murdered and no one cares because she is a prostitute. Society’s hands are just as bloody as the guy who did it.” “We are responsible for our children and young people – yet the issue is not ours alone. Governments, communities and society as a whole must be held accountable for the sexual exploitation of our children and youth”