The sexual exploitation of children is not inevitable. That was the message coming out of Rio de Janeiro where 137 governments met with children and youth representatives, international organizations, NGOs and private sector companies. As Mechtild Maurer reports, the Third World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents held in Rio from 25 to 28 November, 2008, developed a declaration and an action plan which is yet to be finalised. While Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was a major topic and the Brazilian government had encouraged private sector participation, only a few tourism enterprises were represented.
Further information: www.ecpat.net/WorldCongressIII/index.php, www.iiicongressomundial.net, www.eicyac.org
(104 words, 9 lines, December 2008, TW 52)