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

• The legislative framework includes a legislative basis for prevention, for developing
appropriate reporting mechanisms for adults and children, and for providing a childfriendly
justice system in compliance with international standards;
• The legislative framework requires all those involved in responding to sexual abuse
and exploitation to ensure that girls and boys are aware of their right to, and have the
opportunity to, express their views and have those views given due weight in all
decision making and in all administrative and judicial procedures;
• Capacity-building in implementing and enforcing legislation is provided for all those
who are or should be engaged in the process, including in the education, health,
welfare, social and criminal justice sectors, recognizing that preventing and
responding to sexual exploitation of girls and boys require a multi-sectoral and
gender-sensitive approach;
• The legislative framework is backed by necessary resource allocations, requiring
detailed budget analysis, and agreed implementation strategies across sectors,
specifically for preventing and effectively responding to sexual exploitation of boys
and girls.
Clarify legal definitions
• Amend and harmonize laws to bring them in line with international standards and
definitions, including definitions of a child, child trafficking, sexual abuse, sexual
exploitation of children, child pornography/child abusive images and sexual
exploitation of children in prostitution.
Strengthen legislation related to child sexual exploitation
• Amend laws to specifically address children in prostitution.
• Ensure that child victims of sexual exploitation are not criminalised.
• Provide appropriate penalties for perpetrators of sexual exploitation of children.
• Provide child-friendly services to girls and boys who are victims of sexual abuse and
exploitation.
• Include preventive measures in legislation.
• Ensure that the following activities are penalized under the law:
o Recruiting a child into prostitution or causing a child to participate;
o Coercing a child into prostitution or profiting from or otherwise exploiting a
child for that purpose;
o Using a child in prostitution;
o Attempting or aiding or abetting or any other act of complicity with these
offences.
Strengthen legislation related to child trafficking linked to sexual exploitation
• Review laws and ensure that they conform fully to international standards – in
particular to incorporate the definition of trafficking and child trafficking from the
Palermo Protocol, addressing trafficking for all forms of sexual exploitation within a
human rights framework and respecting the rights of child victims.
• Ensure that trafficked boys and girls up to 18 are not criminalized, including for any
offences they commit in relation to their situation as victims of trafficking for sexual
exploitation.
• Without impinging on people’s right to movement (and migration), take steps to
prevent unsafe and risky migration that may lead to trafficking and other forms of
exploitation.
150