Caritas Internationalis is calling for an increased commitment to fighting the root causes of the trafficking of minors ahead of an international conference against the sexual exploitation of children.
 
The “III World Congress against the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents”, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro from 25-28 November, will look at boosting the rights of children vulnerable to exploitation around the world.
 
“Caritas has the protection of children at the heart of its work,” said Martina Liebsch, Caritas Internationalis’ advocacy coordinator on Migration and Trafficking.
 
“We want to ensure that each child has a right to a childhood where they are nurtured and are safe from the horrors of sexual exploitation and trafficking,” she said.
 
The International Labor Organization (ILO) says that as many as 1.2 million victims of trafficking are minors under the age of 18. Women and girls are the majority of those trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
 
Caritas wants to see an improvement in border controls and the increased birth registration of children in their home countries so that it is more difficult to traffick children from one nation to another.
 
Caritas says that increasing families’ capabilities through human rights education, capacity building and access to dignified work at a just wage are essential building blocks in the response to trafficking.
 
“Governments have to deliver on their promises to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,” says Ms Liebsch. “They have to ensure that families are given enough support to raise their children and protect them from the risks of trafficking.”
 
She says that governments should focus their efforts on prevention, assistance and development work with the most vulnerable children.
 
Caritas is calling for the criminalisation of trafficking in all countries and for the protection of children taking part in legal proceedings for trafficking. It wants to see the appointment of “National Rapporteurs on Trafficking” as well as increased funding dedicated to the issue.

For more information please contact: Martina Liebsch, Caritas Internationalis advocacy coordinator for migration, trafficking and gender: Tel: +39 06 698 797 19/+ 39 334 35 90 814, liebsch@caritas.va