BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services, 11 September) -- Two new United Nations studies reveal that health and social services provided are grossly inadequate to the young victims of sexual abuse (rape and incest) and sexual exploitation (trafficking, prostitution and pornography) who face grave physical and psychological health conditions.
The two subregional reports, produced by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), focus on the situation of sexually abused and sexually exploited young people in the Greater Mekong Subregion and South Asia, their health needs and the available services.
The reports will be formally launched at a press conference scheduled for Friday, 15 September 2000, 10:15 am, at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok.
Taking part in the launch will be Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary, ESCAP, H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister of Thailand and Chairman, National Committee for the Formulation of Thailand’s Master Plan and Plan of Action for Human Rights, and Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, Rapporteur for the Stockholm World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, both of whom will provide commentaries on the ESCAP studies.
Despite the urgency of the problems, few attempts are being made to provide these children and adolescents with the psychological support they need to overcome the severe trauma they suffer as a result of working in the sex industry. “We found that there were virtually no services available for young victims of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation and, where services existed, they only treated physical ailments. Almost no regard was paid to the emotional and psychological care young victims need to help them recover, and reintegrate back into the community,” Mr. Kim noted.
According to Mr. Kim, the trafficking of children and youth, within Asia as well as from Asia to outside countries, is a thriving business and a cause for great concern in view of the violation of the rights of these child victims. In addition, sexual abuse is one of the most hidden and underreported forms of sexual violence in Asia.
“Sexual abuse occurs predominately at the hands of a family member or an acquaintance whom the children know and trust. And, while the majority of victims of sexual abuse were girls aged 6-12 in the Greater Mekong Subregion and 10-15 in South Asia, we found cases of sexual abuse of girls as young as 4 years old,” he added.
These children often run away from home and enter prostitution, or are sold by their families. Indeed, factors such as lack of education, family breakdown, substance abuse and the persistence of poverty all contribute to the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children.
The conditions in which these children live are harsh. Brothel conditions in many countries are squalid, and some children are forced to serve up to 10 customers per day. Sexually exploited children are also vulnerable to physical abuse from customers and brothel owners.
“Sexually abused and sexually exploited children and youth suffer from a wide range of physical and psychological health problems,” Mr. Kim said. “Sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, is common, as the children lack the power to force customers to wear condoms. In Cambodia, for instance, up to 61 per cent of sex workers are seropositive for HIV.”
“These children face serious psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, fear and guilt. These problems can lead to substance abuse and even to attempted suicide, as revealed in the ESCAP studies.”
According to Mr. Kim, “Although legislation against sexual abuse and sexual exploitation exists in all countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion and South Asia, great challenges remain to enforce these laws, as well as to strengthen preventative and punitive measures against perpetrators.”
The reports are part of a wider ESCAP regional programme on eliminating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and youth in Asia and the Pacific, which includes advocacy at the governmental level, capacity building for health and social service personnel, and the development of community awareness projects.
For more information about the research findings or ESCAP's programme, please contact:
Ms. Nanda Krairiksh, Chief, Human Resources Development Section,
Social Development Division
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200
Tel: (662) 288-1502; Fax: (662) 288-3031
E-mail: hrd-section.unescap@un.org
NOTE TO EDITORS: You or your representatives are invited to attend a press conference to launch the two reports scheduled for Friday, 15 September 2000, 10:15 am, UN Conference Centre, Conference Room 4. Refreshments will be served beforehand.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. David Lazarus, Chief
United Nations Information Services
Tel: (66-2) 288-1861-5; Fax: (66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap.org