SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A ...

The NPA does not address linkages between sexual exploitation and child labour or noncommercial
child sexual abuse.
The 10-Year National Plan of Action for Children (2005-2015) amends a number of gaps in
the trafficking NPA and is a more detailed, comprehensive document. Its programmes include
reviewing legislation with a view towards addressing sexual exploitation, abuse and
harassment; reviewing and amending laws regarding the age of children; strengthening the
participation of children in policy-making; addressing child labour issues; strengthening
monitoring and response to child abuse at the local level; and developing mechanisms to
protect children living on the street. However, like the trafficking NPA, this plan of action
depends on the government at the district and local levels for implementation and lacks
adequate mechanisms for involving community participants.
6.4 Programme Responses
6.4.1 Children’s participation
In Nepal, children’s views have played an important part in public advocacy against child
sexual abuse and exploitation. CWIN, Child Protection Centres and Services Nepal, and other
organizations have collected an extensive record of the views of boys and girls about sexual
abuse and exploitation and have distributed this information to the public. At a global level,
children from Nepal and Bangladesh were central contributors to the child-focused advocacy
document ‘10 Essential Learning Points: Listen and Speak Out against Sexual Abuse of Girls
and Boys’. 298
With the support of the NGO Maiti Nepal and counterpart NGOs in India and Bangladesh,
child survivors and young people at risk engage in regional participatory activities, including
peer support, community awareness and public advocacy, through the Youth Partnership
Project coordinated by ECPAT International.
At the community level, children’s participation has been instrumental in responding to
sexual abuse and trafficking in some districts of Nepal. With support from Save the Children
and NGO partners, numerous child clubs have been formed in rural areas, providing a
structure for children to gather for mutual support and to discuss issues of sexual abuse and
exploitation. These child clubs have provided boys and girls with the confidence and
empowerment to confront abusive situations in their communities and to conduct dialogue on
these issues with guardians, teachers, employers and local government officials.
6.4.2 Monitoring and data collection
Until recently, organizations such as CWIN have conducted considerable research, but there
has been no regular monitoring of incidents of child sexual abuse and exploitation in Nepal,
either by government or NGOs. Recently, due to concern about police treatment of girls and
women ‘rescued’ during raids on dance bars and cabin restaurants, several organizations,
298 Save the Children Alliance, 2005, ‘10 essential learning points: Listen and speak out against sexual abuse of
girls and boys’ (global submission to the UN Study on Violence against Children).
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