Integrating Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation into Actions against Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Youth in the Greater Mekong Subregion

Recognizing that sexual abuse and sexual exploitation are often related to substance abuse, UNESCAP and UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) joined forces on a project titled “ Integrating substance abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation into actions against sexual abuse and exploitation of children and youth in the Greater Mekong Subregion” in 1999-2000. This project formed part of the overall UNESCAP programme in the GMS.

Psychosocial and Medical Services for CSEC in the Greater Mekong Subregion

Cambodia, China (Yunnan province), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam formed the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) component of the 12-country UNESCAP regional programme. UNESCAP, in collaboration with Uppsala University of Sweden and a CEDC (Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances) Expert, implemented the project from 1998 through 2001 with financial support from Sida (Swedish International Cooperation Agenda), and supplemental funding from UNAIDS, UNODC and UNFPA.

Psychosocial and Medical Services for CSEC in South Asia and the Philippines

Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines formed the South Asian/Philippines component of the 12-country UNESCAP regional programme. From 1998 through 2001, four phases of Programme activities were implemented with financial support from the Governments of Japan and Australia.

Training of Trainers Course on Psychosocial and Medical Services for Sexually Abused and Sexually Exploited Children and Youth in the Greater Mekong Subregion

In September 2001, UNESCAP, ILO-IPEC (International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour), and UN-IAP (Inter-Agency Project on Trafficking in Women and Children) launched a joint project entitled “Training of Trainers Course on Psychosocial and Medical Services for Sexually Abused and Sexually Exploited Children and Youth in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)”. This is a follow-up project to the GMS programme that aimed at strengthening national capabilities to combat sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and youth in the GMS.

Developing monitoring mechanisms for Yokohama follow-up in Asia Pacific

Under this project (2002-2003), in close collaboration with UNICEF and ECPAT International:

A regional workshop on Monitoring the East Asia and Pacific Regional Commitment and Action Plan against CSEC was held to review the draft monitoring indicators and discuss issues related to the establishment of effective country-level monitoring mechanisms, culminating in the development of the electronic database CSEC-Info.

A South Pacific regional workshop on combating poverty and commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth was organized in collaboration with UNICEF and ECPAT International. The workshop discussed the development and implementation of national plans of action to implement the Yokohama Agenda including monitoring of the regional commitments.

Implementing the Yokohama Commitment: Developing capacity to combat sexual exploitation of children and youth in Asia-Pacific

Under this project (2003-2004) training courses on psychosocial and medical services for sexually abused and sexually exploited children were continued in South and Central Asia. In seven Pacific Island Countries situational analyses on CSEC were undertaken (two countries were supported by UNESCAP, the other five countries by UNICEF and ECPAT international). The post Yokohama Mid-term Review of the East Asia and the Pacific Regional Commitment and Action Plan against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children was organized in November 2004.