GENEVA - Despite progress in global efforts, children around the world continue to face serious and evolving risks of sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, a UN Special Rapporteur warned today.
"Too many children continue to be sold, trafficked, sexually exploited, and abused globally - often in ways that remain invisible, normalised or unaddressed," said Mama Fatima Singhateh, UN Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children as she presented her final report to the Human Rights Council.
Singhateh noted that recent years have seen meaningful advances in which States have strengthened legal frameworks criminalising the sale and sexual exploitation of children, in line with international standards.
"Awareness has grown regarding the interconnected nature of these crimes. We have also witnessed stronger international cooperation, more survivor centred approaches, and deeper engagement with the private sector," she said. "Yet, despite these accomplishments, the scale and severity of violations against children remain alarming and concerning."
In her report, the expert reflected on the current state of affairs in relation to the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children. The report is also dedicated to taking stock of how her six-year tenure has contributed to preventing and responding to this scourge and to identifying the remaining and new challenges for the mandate.
"The landscape of child sexual exploitation is rapidly evolving. Children face growing risks due to accelerating digital threats and intersecting global crises," the Special Rapporteur said. She warned that technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse have intensified, while conflicts and climate-related disasters continue to create conditions conducive to child sexual exploitation and abuse, and growing extractive industries often heighten children's vulnerabilities.
"These 'new frontiers' require us to rethink our strategies, update and effectively implement our legal frameworks, and invest in technological solutions that match the sophistication of those who seek to harm children," Singhateh said.
The expert called on States to strengthen, harmonise and effectively implement legal frameworks that criminalise all forms of child exploitation, invest in digital safety and stronger oversight of technology platforms, enhance cross border cooperation, ensure survivor centred justice, address root causes and engage the private sector as a proactive partner. She also called on all stakeholders working with and for children to ensure that children are placed at the centre of every decision, every policy, and every intervention.
"The sale, sexual exploitation, and sexual abuse of children are not inevitable. They are preventable," the Special Rapporteur said. "They are rooted in choices - political choices, economic choices, technological choices - and, because they are rooted in choices, we have the power to choose to uphold and protect the rights of children, close the gaps that leave them vulnerable, and build a world where every child is valued, protected and free from every form of exploitation."
