The report detailed the scope and toll of the problem of child abuse which includes commercial and sexual exploitation. The report, "Profiting from Abuse," included statistics and testimonials from women and children who have been taken advantage of abused. The report was launched in conjunction with the Second World Congress Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children that will be held in Yokohama, Japan December 17 to 20.

While speaking at a press conference at the UN, Kul Gautum, Deputy Executive Director of Unicef, stressed the importance of the Conventions on the Rights of the Child, of 1989 which has been ratified by 191 countries and states that, "a child has the right be to free from abuse, to receive an education and to play." He informed reporters that any person under the age of 18 was officially a child in the eyes of the UN.

Even though this convention has been ratified by all member nations, child exploitation has worsened. ³We do not have exact estimates. We do know that the sex trade is a multi-billion dollar industry,² said Gautum. He said the reason for this is that the problem of child exploitation and abuse is a sensitive subject, about which few want to talk. It is difficult to get reliable statistics. He went on to say that Unicef is making progress, however, ³the magnitude of the problem is growing.²

Gautum, cited development as one of the problems which may be leading to the expansion of child exploitation. "The Internet giving access to child pornography is a bad affect of globalization," he said. In addition with improved transportation facilities child traffickers are able to transport children over vast distances.

The report contains personal testimonials from teenagers who were taken to foreign countries and forced to work on the streets as prostitutes. If they refused they were beaten and tortured. The same fate was shared by teenage girls who were married off to older men under false pretenses, taken abroad and made to work on the street. Chilling experiences and statistics fill the report reminding the international community of the heinous nature of these crimes. "Poverty cannot be used as a justification for these crimes," stressed Gautum.

The report does however, find poverty one of the main reasons for child exploitation. People living in poverty are enticed to send their children to work in cities under the pretext that they will earn more money. Gender discrimination is another reasons cited. In some societies men are held in higher esteem than women, who tend to be treated as property.

Unicef has found that war and other forms of conflict often lead to an increase of child exploitation. In some cases women and children have had to perform sexually for officials in refugee camps.

To combat these problems Unicef plans to promote their agenda at the conference in Yokohama next week. This agenda of zero tolerance is not new but a result of the First World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1996. The conference will also serve to heighten awareness of the international community towards the problems of child exploitation.

Unicef has practical solutions to this problem. Expanding basic education would help children who are prone of exploitation. Tougher criminal punishments would also discourage perpetrators from committing the crimes. Children who suffer exploitation and abuse are often scorned by their societies and families. Hence Unicef promotes reintegration into their homes or safer environments.

The report also tries to clarify misconceptions that exist in this trade. Gautum told reporters that people think having sexual relations with younger children can curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. However, younger children are more susceptible to the virus. This misconception has led to a greater demand for younger children in the sex industry. The report also tells the readers that girls are not the only target but young boys are also used in prostitution.

Unicef hopes for greater commitment for states during the conference in Yokohama. They are optimistic as more countries are scheduled to participate in this conference than in the meeting in Stockholm.