'Children and adolescents cannot wait any longer for adults to close the gap between past intentions and commitments, and today's reality of abuse
and exploitation. We all must 'protect the children of the world, fight for their right to a better life; make sure that their future is one that we can all be proud of!' was the call to action
by World Vision youth participants at the World Congres III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolecents in Brazil this week.
The World Vision youth delegation had an opportunity
to share their knowledge and express their opinions about creating a systematic approach to guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents and their protection against sexual exploitation.
'If children are not aware of the dangers, they don't know what kind of things could happen to them, 'explains Madeline, a young woman from the Preventing the victimisation of teenagers to
human trafficking project in Romania, who attended the World Congress in Rio this week.
The Preventing the victimisation of teenagers to human trafficking targets vulnerable teenagers in
rural communities in Romania through theatre, and media campaigns by focusing on the true story of a young woman lured and forced into a prostitution ring under the promise of a work abroad
opportunity. This project is one of ten initiatives underway specifically targeted at child trafficking prevention for youth and empowers their communities to access governmental help across World
Vision's Middle East and Eastern European Region.
'We want to empower children and youth to have a protected and happy future. Its not just about prevention of trafficking, or the
exploitation of children, but more about a taking a holistic, rights based approach to prevent them falling into the terrible potholes that millions of children are vulnerable to across this region',
explains the regional Anti-Trafficking Action Coalition Coordinator, Matthew Stephens.
World Vision's Middle East and Eastern European Region is working to address CSEC within the context
of human trafficking through practical programming at the grassroots levels, the pursuit of institutional reform at a Governmental level, and coordination with the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Advocating for anti-trafficking protection of children during times of conflict and crisis is another important component of the CSEC work undertaken in this
volatile region. In August 2008, World Vision Georgia and the OSCE began a national assessment of child trafficking for sexual exploitation in Georgia to asses the potential vulnerabilities to
trafficking of children displaced by conflict or disaster. The final report is due to be released by mid-December 2008.
For further information on ATAC, please contact matthew_stephens@wvi.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Children play with stagnant raw sewage at the Machipisa suburb in Harare November 28 2008. Fast-spreading cholera is "the tip of the iceberg" of what stands to be a major health ...
