Major challenges

Child protection concepts often do not protect the most vulnerable groups of victims. The measures taken by governments and companies are not sufficient and there is not enough support and guidance for child victims. Prosecution is weak, due to a lack of cooperation among authorities and governments, and the number of convicted offenders is alarmingly low. Research by ECPAT Germany identified main obstacles have been criminal proceedings with cross-border implications, such as: language barriers, long durations between the crime and the testimony in court, residence determination of the victims, different regulations of hearings, lack of awareness among judges and police (ECPAT Germany, 2016).

There is a link between sexual violence and the work of volunteers and development workers who constitute about 20 percent of identified foreign offenders. Most of the offenders do not plan to abuse children, but use opportunities during their travel, thinking they can get away with it (Bread for the World et al, 2014).