'Children and adolescents cannot wait any longer for adults to close the gap between
past intentions and commitments, and today's reality of abuse and exploitation. We all must 'protect the children of the world, fight for their right to a better life; make sure that
their future is one that we can all be proud of!' was the call to action by World Vision youth participants at the World Congres III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolecents in Brazil this week.

The World Vision youth delegation had an opportunity to share their knowledge and express their opinions about creating a systematic approach to guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents and their protection against sexual exploitation.

'If children are not aware of the dangers, they don't know what kind of things could happen to them, 'explains Madeline, a young woman from the Preventing the victimisation of teenagers to human trafficking project in Romania, who attended the World Congress in Rio this week.

The Preventing the victimisation of teenagers to human trafficking targets vulnerable teenagers in rural communities in Romania through theatre, and media campaigns by focusing on the true story of a young woman lured and forced into a prostitution ring under the promise of a work abroad opportunity. This project is one of ten initiatives underway specifically targeted at child trafficking prevention for youth and empowers their communities to access governmental help across World Vision's Middle East and Eastern European Region.

'We want to empower children and youth to have a protected and happy future. Its not just about prevention of trafficking, or the exploitation of children, but more about a taking a holistic, rights based approach to prevent them falling into the terrible potholes that millions of children are vulnerable to across this region', explains the regional Anti-Trafficking Action Coalition Coordinator, Matthew Stephens.

World Vision's Middle East and Eastern European Region is working to address CSEC within the context of human trafficking through practical programming at the grassroots levels, the pursuit of institutional reform at a Governmental level, and coordination with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Advocating for anti-trafficking protection of children during times of conflict and crisis is another important component of the CSEC work undertaken in this volatile region.
In August 2008, World Vision Georgia and the OSCE began a national assessment of child trafficking for sexual exploitation in Georgia to asses the potential vulnerabilities to trafficking of children displaced by conflict or disaster. The final report is due to be released by mid-December 2008.

For further information on ATAC, please contact
matthew_stephens@wvi.org