Established in 1994, ECPAT UK is the national member of ECPAT International, a global network of children's rights organisations coordinating research, advocacy and action to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children. There are 122 ECPAT members in 104 countries across all regions of the world. Some are large national coalitions while others are small, grassroots organisations.

ECPAT began in 1990 as a campaign to end child sexual exploitation in Asia by tourists from the global north, including the UK. Since then, our ambitious mission has required us to build a very unique kind of organisation, mixing broad geographical coverage and first-hand experience of the issue with advocacy at national, regional and international levels, all informed by high quality research and analysis.

Our work and solid partnerships have earned us a reputation as a world-class expert on the sexual exploitation of children. Governments and civil society organisations worldwide recognise ECPAT as the only international NGO network solely dedicated to the fight against the sexual exploitation of children.

Since its establishment, ECPAT has won several high profile international awards, including the 2012 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award, the 2013 Hilton Humanitarian Prize and Interpol's Crimes Against Children award. ECPAT International also has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).

The ECPAT International Secretariat is based in Bangkok, Thailand, where the ECPAT movement was born.