Kathmandu, February 9:

There is little understanding about the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Nepal, as the issues tend to be dealt with within the framework of trafficking in children and women, said a report ‘Global Monitoring Reports on the Status of Action against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Nepal’ launched here yesterday.

The report, which was launched by ECPAT — End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes — a network of organisations and individuals working together to stop the commercial sexual exploitation of children, said better understanding and a knowledge base on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) needs to be developed through research and training for more effective action.

The report was launched globally to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).

“A consolidated and coordinated work approach by government agencies and NGOs working against CSES s required — in terms of sharing plans, experiences and resources, supporting and complementing each other’s work, and replicating good practices — to avoid duplication of efforts and to give initiatives a sharper focus. The government should play a key role in facilitating such a process,” it said.

Speaking at the launch programme, Dr Tufail Mohammed, board member of ECPAT South Asia said, trafficking of children for sexual exploitation is a pressing problem in Asia and this region constitutes both destination and transit countries.

“These reports can play a strong role in assisting law makers and concerned authorities.”

The report provides a baseline of information on actions taken and remaining gaps for addressing CSEC in each country, based on the framework of the Agenda for Action against CSEC, to enable more systematic assessment of progress implementation of this commitment, the report said.

The first congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation against Children was held in 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden, providing testimony that convinced the world that sexual violations against children exist in all nations, irrespective of cultural differences or geographic location.

The Second World Congress was held in Yokohama in 2001.