7 million signatures against child abuse

(November 07, 2011) A non-governmental organization fighting child prostitution, pornography and trafficking worldwide is starting a 3-day international meeting in Paris, France on Tuesday for one of history’s biggest human rights petitions to be presented to the United Nations calling for action to stop the abuse of minors. The fifth General Assembly of End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking or ECPAT is bringing together delegates of its networks in over 70 countries. ECPAT holds such meetings once every three years, but the Nov. 8-10 gathering in is the network’s first since the proclamation of the 2008 Rio de Janeiro Declaration and the Call to Action to prevent and stop the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents (CSEC). There are 84 ECPAT organisations active in 75 countries. The network and the cosmetics and beauty firm Body Shop have come together for the ‘Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People Campaign’. They are planning to present a petition of over 7 million signatures from all over the world to the United Nations Human Rights Council next year, calling on governments across the world to take urgent action to stop the sex trafficking of children and you n people. According to ECPAT some 1.2 million children are trafficked each year for sexual exploitation. The joint campaign has been active across 65 countries.