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Address by H M Queen Silvia of Sweden at the 2nd World Congress against commercial sexual exploitation of children, Yokohama, December 17, 2001
Your Imperial Highness,
Your Excellencies,
Honourable Mayor of the Host City,
Dear Mrs. Bellamy,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Thank you very much for your kind words……….
It is a great honour for me as the Patron of the first World Congress against commercial sexual exploitation of children in Stockholm in 1996, to address you all. In this capacity I am grateful to the Government of Japan for hosting this extremely important second World Congress against commercial sexual exploitation of children as well as to you, Your Imperial Highness, who has shown such a warm commitment since the following-up event at the Swedish embassy 1977. Your support has been wonderful and very appreciated.
I am impress by the hard work of the four organizing partners of this congress in making it possible to review all the efforts and action to fulfil the commitments made in the Stockholm Declaration and Agenda for Action. I feel sure the Yokohama World Congress will provide rich opportunities to analyse the challenges and obstacles facing us in our endeavours to combat of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, to share lessons learnt and to indicate ways to go forward.
It makes me very hopeful when I see that so many governments have recognized the significance of the Yokohama World Congress by sending their representatives. Inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and members of the civil society from around the world, we have all gathered in Yokohama not only to review development but also to reaffirm our commitment. Each of us present at this Congress, and many more who are not here, have become part of a global network, including every sector of society.
I welcome all the important development we have seen during the past five years. I would particularly like to emphasize two encouraging areas:
Participation of young people in the fight against the commercial sexual exploitation of children has increased. Youth participation was one of the five areas of action agreed upon in Stockholm. Although small in number, the young people gathered in Stockholm crossed cultural and linguistic barriers. They impressed us all by their energy and commitment.
In May 2000 young representatives of 30 countries met again in Manila, in the Philippines. They were inspired and empowered by exchanging ideas and learning from the experience of others. During the past few years young people have also taken part in many other international, regional and national events, including regional consultations preparing for the Yokohama World Congress. Their presence has undoubtedly strengthened the role of children and young people as advocates of the Rights for the Child.
I would also like to highlight the increased involvement of the private sector. Several companies within the travel, tourism and hotel businesses, as well as in information technology and Internet service are assuming an increased responsibility in trying to eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children. A very tangible example is that of several major airlines regularly running in-flight videos with the triple aim of informing passengers about child sex tourism, warning potential abusers and mobilizing other travellers to be vigilant.
Also, Codes of Conduct are nowadays being implemented by various tour operating companies. Hundreds of thousands of travellers are made aware of how children are being sexually abused and exploited for profit and what they can do to prevent it. There is no doubt that large corporations, small businesses and individual private sector employers and employees have important contributions to make. The private sector has become an important ally in our endeavours and I am pleased to see such a substantial number represented here today.
Despite many excellent initiatives since 1996, I am distressed to hear that there is evidence that the horrifying commercial sexual exploitation of innocent and unprotected children is growing around the world. We must all have the courage to acknowledge that the problems exist and I am sorry to say it also happens in my own country. We must also recognize the undisputable right of each individual to full protection according to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. I am personally convinced that one of our greatest enemies is our reluctance sometimes to see the problem fully. It is painful to do so but let us not forget that the suffering of the victims is far more painful!
Since the Stockholm Congress the world has experienced major changes in the fields of new technology, including the Internet. The misuse of such technology has become a fearful obstacle in the fight against the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Where once child pornographic material had to be sent by mail or exchanged from hand to hand, it can now be transmitted electronically to hundreds of recipients across the globe in a few seconds. Each image represents a severe violation and humiliation of an innocent child. Web sites offering child pornography are hiding among the hundreds of thousands of sites available today on the Internet.
According to police sources some 100 child pornography web sites are closed down daily. Unfortunately new ones appear even faster. A recent case disclosed 77.000 child pornographic images in the computer of one single perpetrator, many of which depicted the man’s own abuse. By its criminal nature, the commercial sexual exploitation of children makes them ”invisible”.
Removed from public view behind the doors of brothels or hotel rooms, in cars and trucks on city streets, in upstairs rooms in massage parlours or bars or even in family homes, the children who are exploited for sex are hidden so that they can be exploited at leisure and the perpetrators protected. It is therefore almost impossible to know the exact number of victims. However, every year at least an estimated one million children are sacrificed to gratify the sexual pleasure and profit-making motives of exploiters worldwide. Using that figure it makes 3.000 new victims per day or 125 children every hour.
These terrifying figures demand our concerted efforts and strong action on all levels of society. It also requires that we face the supply as well as the demand side of the problem.
I would like to end by sharing with you my personal conviction that commercial sexual exploitation of children is
- a crime against humanity
- a crime which can be prevented and
- a slavery which must be ended!
I wish you all a productive and successful World Congress in Yokohama for the sake of the children of the world!