The trafficking of children for purposes of sexual exploitation

In April 1996 the Eastern and Southern African Regional Consultation on the Commercial Sexual
Exploitation of Children, a preparatory consultation meeting for the First World Congress against
the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, noted that
"... the focus of the World Congress on the 'commercial' aspect of sexual exploitation does not sufficiently reflect the
concerns of the region. They pointed out the fine line between commercial sexual exploitation for 'in-kind' benefits and
the more alarming occurrences of the non-commercial sexual abuse of children in the form of domestic violence and
incest. They believe that far more attention needs to be paid to abuse in the home as both a primary cause of
commercial sexual exploitation and as a far more serious problem in itself." 8
The Human Sciences Research Council's (HSRC) position paper published later that year noted that
the position of the Eastern and Southern African Consultation"clearly reflects a broader perspective on the
problem of the commercial sexual exploitation of children than currently prevails generally. Thus apart from the focus
on the commercial sexual exploitation of South African children, the HSRC position paper also focuses on abuse and
incest in the family; rape, lobola or bride price, child marriage, child sex in exchange for shelter, food, work and
education." 9
The HSRC's position paper further stated that "... only by addressing these wider non-commercial aspects of
sexual exploitation can the commercial sexual exploitation of children be more successfully combated in South
Africa." 10 (Emphasis in the original)
The HSRC position paper also noted the following patterns and trends with regard to the sexual
exploitation of children:
• Although the majority of sexually exploited children are girls and the vast majority of exploiters
are men, a growing number of boys are involved, and women as well as men are exploiting
them
• The sexually exploited child is not paid in cash or profit, but 'in kind', that is the child receives
shelter, food, school fees, school grades or new clothes in exchange for sexual favours
• Adolescent girls and boys who have no other means of supporting themselves and/or their
families regard sex as an 'acceptable' way to earn money. Termed 'survival sex'; the victims,
their families, their communities and/or the perpetrators do generally not regard this
phenomenon as exploitation. Survival sex is often practiced by children who are sent by their
families to earn money by begging or working, or by children living on the street
• Some older men ('sugar daddies') have sex with young girls in exchange for school fees, nice
clothes and other unaffordable luxuries. In addition, commercial sexual exploitation of children
also occurs when large numbers of children are present where large groups of single men are
gathered. This commonly occurs on truck routes and at mining camps.
1.4. The Declaration and Agenda for Action
South Africa and 119 other countries adopted a Declaration and Agenda for Action against the
phenomenon of commercial sexual exploitation of children, at the Stockholm Conference, in
August 1996. In so doing South Africa committed itself broadly to the following actions: 11
See Appendix 4 for the full texts of the Declaration and Agenda for Action1.
1. Co-ordination and co-operation at local, national, regional and international levels with the
purpose of ensuring that
• by the year 2000 there (is) a national agenda for action and indicators of progress, with set goals
and time frames for implementation
• targeted to reducing the number of children vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and
nurturing an environment, attitudes and practices responsive to child rights.
8 E. Schurink and W. Schurink, 'Sexual Exploitation of Children: An HSRC Position Paper' in In Focus Forum, Vol. 4,
No. 3, November 1996 p. 25
9 Ibid p.25
10 Ibid p.25
11 A Step Forward: The Third Report on the Implementation of the Agenda for Action Against Commercial Sexual
Exploitation Stockholm, Sweden, 28 August 1996: ECPAT, 1999 pp 92 - 94
8