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

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Boys in South Asia
A Review of Research Findings, Legislation, Policy
and Programme Responses
John Frederick a
a Child Protection Consultant, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre,
Summary: This paper provides an overview of research findings, legislation, policy and programme
responses to prevent and respond to the sexual abuse and exploitation of boys in South Asia. The
background to the paper is based on the findings from previously conducted UNICEF IRC research
on child trafficking in the region, in which it was indicated that boys enjoy less legal protection than
girls from sexual abuse and exploitation and less access to service for victims. While it is seen that
the majority of legislation and policies that address ‘children’ adequately address ‘boys’, this paper
notes areas in which the rights and needs of boys require greater focus. Among the concerns is the
absence of legal commentary on legislation regarding boys’ issues and an absence of advocacy efforts
to take action and amend laws to provide equal protection to boys. In some cases legislation covers
only girls and women. And, although research shows that boys face nearly the same degree of sexual
abuse and exploitation as girls, programming throughout the region is overwhelmingly directed at
girls and women.
Evidence-based information is lacking on the sexual abuse of both boys and girls and on the sexual
exploitation of boys. The majority of studies to date have emphasized trafficking for sexual
exploitation and have been focused on women and girls. Research on trafficking has concentrated on
recruitment, transportation and sale of victims; little research has been conducted on the subsequent
situations of exploitation into which children are trafficked.
Some countries in South Asia are beginning to fill the knowledge gap regarding both child sexual
abuse and sexual exploitation of boys. The information that is presented was mainly gathered in
2008, but it remains limited by the sources available, some of which date back several years
previously. The findings are however considered to be relatively robust and consistent. The report
presents concrete recommendations for strengthening legislation, policy and programmes to address
this issue from a child rights based approach. It highlights that listening to boys and girls and learning
from their experiences and recommendations are key to designing and implementing effective
preventive and protective mechanisms.
Keywords: sexual exploitation, child sexual abuse, child trafficking, boys in South Asia
Acknowledgments: This paper was developed in its present form through the encouragement of
Lena Karlsson, UNICEF IRC, who discussed with the author the need for a basic ‘reference manual’
on the sexual abuse and exploitation of boys in South Asia that could serve as a foundation for
further research, policy development and programming. This review owes its substance, and
particular thanks are given, to the fine researchers and research organizations who have studied these
issues throughout the sub-continent. These include, among many, AIHRC and ACBAR in
Afghanistan; ACD, BIDS, Therese Blanchet, BTS, INCIDIN and Global Poverty Research Group in
Bangladesh; Equations, Sanlaap, S. L. Akula, Agniva Lahiri, Sunil Menon and P. Virani in India;
CPCS, CWIN, G. Subedi, WOREC, CAC, Kathmandu School of Law, New ERA and K. Kansakar in
Nepal; Pakistan Paediatric Association, Pakistan Voluntary Health and Nutrition Association, PILER,
Aangan/Rozan, Sahil, Azad Foundation, Anusheh Hussain, SPARC and S. Munir in Pakistan;
Harendra de Silva, S. Amarasinghe, LHRD, PEACE, A. Zulfi and MG Consultants in Sri Lanka; and
Ratna Kapur, Turid Heiberg, Ravi Karkara, Jyoti Sanghera and Cathy Slugget for their regional
analyses.
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