The commercial sexual exploitation of children is a fundamental violation of children's rights. CSEC is the inevitable outcome of child trafficking. It is estimated that about 29000 children become the victims of trafficking every year who are forced to get involved with commercial sex. “Youth Partnership Project for Child Survivors and Youth at Risk of Commercial Sexual Exploitation in South Asia” commenced in 2005 aims to have a positive, empowering psycho-social impact on child victims of CSEC, by developing their active participation, learning and advocacy in combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, through local, national, regional and international political and legal structures and the ECPAT International network.
The project intends to develop the skills of young people with a special emphasis of CSEC survivors to offer peer support to the child victim or at risk of CSEC. The trained and experienced peer supporters conduct awareness raising sessions in the 11 shelter homes and 10 schools to disseminate information on child rights issues. Besides, they help the child survivors regaining their lost dreams and confidence through peer counseling. The project also develops lobby and advocacy skills among the young people to enable them to influence local and national policy makers for better prevention, protection and rehabilitation of CSEC survivors. By developing the skills of the care givers through training on care and protection, it ensures counseling support for the young people affected by CSEC. The micro project initiative enables the young people to plan and implement activities which they have prioritized as effective to address the issues of child trafficking and CSEC.
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