ecpat

Who We Are

From a three-year global movement to End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism which began in 1991, ECPAT has evolved into a network of organizations in over 100 countries, working together to eliminate all forms of sexual exploitation of children. In response to a consultation which exposed the growing trend of child prostitution by tourists in Southeast Asia, civil society groups and individuals from Thailand, Sri-Lanka, Taiwan and the Philippines were the first to rally governments and the public to take action. The 3-year campaign which began in 1991 resulted in the first World Congress on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in 1996. Held in Stockholm Sweden, it was attended by concerned governments, inter-governments and other relevant stakeholders who finally took notice of the problem and were prompted to establish legal frameworks that will protect children against sexual exploitation. It was in the same venue where the importance of addressing the interrelated forms of sexual exploitation i.e. child prostitution, child sex trafficking and pornography on a global level was highlighted.

ECPAT in the Philippines was one of the lead organizations that lobbied for the enactment of national landmark legislations which aid in the prosecution of criminals associated with sexual exploitation of children: Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children from Abuse, Discrimination and Neglect of 1992; Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 9208 and Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009. Further realizing the importance of localizing these national laws in order for them to be truly implemented in vulnerable communities, ECPAT has also pushed for the enactment of local ordinances in areas where it works. In 2016 and 2017, it has successfully lobbied for the adoption of Anti-Child Sex Tourism ordinances, the first of its kind, in the province of Bohol and municipality of Malay in Aklan, respectively. Today, ECPAT’s programs and projects are strategically aimed to help ensure that these laws do not only remain in paper, but efficiently enforced... Read more

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