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Another important objective of the reports is to stimulate the exchange of experienceand knowledge among countries and different actors to create a dialogue that can furtherwork against CSEC. The implementation of the Agenda for Action is urgently required;the reports clearly illustrate that there is a compelling need for global action to protectchildren from these inhuman violations. No doubt the Third World Congress will assist inthis regard.7.4 Final RemarksThe private sector has been implicated in CSEC. Given the pervasiveness of the sector,their involvement is unavoidable; how the various parties react to this involvement isdependent on several factors including the level of involvement, the nature of the workand the motivation of the employees, director and share holders. This study has analyzedthe options available in order to hold private sector industries accountable for violations ofthe most fundamental right of children to be protected from sexual exploitationAlthough internal and external corporate social responsibility tools have increased inpopularity since the First and Second World Congresses, codes of conduct and otherdevices have been heavily criticized as being ineffective and nothing more than a publicrelations exercise. Some of the negativity may have merit, but exceptions do exist and goodwork has been done without the need for government intervention. Internationally, globalstandard setting through intergovernmental organisations, have offered an alternative tothe micro industry approach adopted on an ad hoc basis. Although this international “softlaw” does offer the benefit of much greater public awareness and professional supportfrom an international secretariat, the voluntary and self-policing characteristics have alsobrought these approaches into disrepute. The most recent trend has been to try and holdthe private sector accountable by alleged treating violations of international law (includingthe CRC and its Optional Protocols) as actionable, in the way that human rights violationscommitted by a state are actionable in some domestic courts of law. This use of “hard law”also has its drawbacks – most often the cost of mounting the case and the lengthy periodbetween commencing and concluding an application – and likely a combination of allthese tools are needed to make progress.This report has also highlighted which private sector sub-sectors are involved in the crimeand which industries are helping to combat or, in some cases, contribute to CSEC. Thefocus has been on travel and tourism, the media, the emerging field of new technologies andthe financial industries. Reference was also made to businesses that have not yet immersedthemselves in this work, but have the potential to assist in its prevention. Although each106|Private Sector Accountability in Combating the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children