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 ECPAT UK has worked with partner organisations in the UK to enable young people to campaign against commercial sexual exploitation and to
increase service provision and support for those seeking to exit exploitative conditions. ECPAT UK is committed to youth participation and on building
links with youth networks. Youth Participation Campaign One recent campaign involving youth participation has been ECPAT UKÕs partnership with The ChildrenÕs Society in a three year National Youth Participation Campaign on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. This began in 2003 and ended in December 2005. Funded by Comic Relief and The Body Shop Foundation the projects aims were to give young people a chance to express their views about sexual exploitation and increase their visibility. One key outcome in 2004 was a response to the UK GovernmentÕs consultation on prostitution written by the Youth Campaign Coordinator with input from young campaigners. They campaigned for the Government to recognise that young people involved in prostitution be seen as victims of abuse and not as criminals. Over 7,000 postcards were sent to projects providing services to sexually exploited children throughout the country to sign onto the campaign and then sent to the Home Office in response to the consultation. This campaign grew out of earlier initiatives, fostered by ECPAT UK, for youth inclusion in projects that affected them. In 1997, a group of young people in Manchester produced their own video to explain the issue of commercial sexual exploitation of children. Another group of young people then helped write a report called More Than One Chance, which surveyed youth involved in prostitution in the UK and led to the development of a proposal by ECPAT UK and The ChildrenÕs Society to set up a youth campaign. The current campaign is about to end but the Youth Campaign Coordinator is exhibiting the photographs of 40 young people across the country to raise awareness about the challenges young people face when trying to exit the sex industry or a risky way of life. Those who took the photographs believe that media stereotypes about young people in prostitution should be challenged to show that like any other young person they also have hopes and dreams for the future. To find out more about the photography exhibition contact the Youth Campaign Coordinator, Fiona Kidd at fck@childsoc.org.uk. Back to Top >> FAQ >> |
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