Anti Child Sex Trade

ECPAT - End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking in Children for Sexual Purposes.

ECPAT was formed in 1990, when a group of children’s rights representatives in Thailand found that commercial sexual exploitation of children was not limited to a few individual cases, but a fast growing industry of child sex trade. In August 1996 ECPAT initiated the first World Congress against commercial exploitation of children. The Swedish government hosted the event, and gathered representatives from 122 countries. In connection with the World Congress, ECPAT Sweden (Children’s rights against sexual exploitation) was formed. 

ECPAT Sweden is part of ECPAT International, whose network stretches over 84 countries. ECPAT Sweden is a non-profit association which works to prevent and stop all forms of child sex trade such as child pornography, trafficking and child sex tourism. Their work is based on policies and behavioral codes towards the business world, public authorities and organizations. The goal is to make more operators in the community counteract child sex trade in Sweden and abroad. Thousands of tourists, business men and others travel abroad every year. Some of them exploit children sexually. Commercial sexual exploitation of children exists in Sweden as well as abroad. This is why ECPAT is much needed in Sweden and abroad. 

ECPAT does not do charity work, but takes the liberty to give children a voice by trying to influence politicians, decision makers and other influential people. The intention is to achieve legal changes, re-distribution of resources, the awareness and commitment of authorities to abolish child sex trade. Every year ECPAT Sweden gives many lectures concerning child sex trade to different target audiences. One of the most important tasks of ECPAT International is the coordination and development of the network and to support the ECPAT-groups and other groups which are working against commercial sexual exploitation of children.

ECPAT has, among other things, initiated blocking of commercial child pornographic Internet sites. The goal is to make such criminal activity unprofitable. The blocking was introduced in cooperation with a lot of different stakeholders, such as the Swedish National Criminal Investigation Bureau and all the major Internet service providers. Today the Internet service providers are blocking 20 000-30 000 attempts daily to enter these sites.

ECPAT Sweden has succeeded in all the major Swedish leisure travel companies agreeing to a common behavioral code for travel agencies against any child sex trade. This includes obligations to report suspected child sex trade, obligations for the travel companies to educate their staff and obligations for the partner hotels to adhere to ECPAT guidelines.

Betsson wants to be part of the important work of abolishing all forms of sexual exploitation of children and is therefore supporting the work of ECPAT