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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Stop the Exploitation: Contribution to the Prevention and Elimination of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic

Region/Country

THE AMERICAS/ Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá,

Project Duration

June 30, 2002 – April 30, 2006 (Phase I)
September 30, 2005 – April 30, 2009 (Addendum)

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 2002: USD 3,795,285
FY 2005: USD 4,966,817

Problem to be Addressed

Commercial sexual exploitation of children is a widespread phenomenon in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. In some of the countries, up to two thirds of families have problems satisfying their basic needs for housing, food, and clothing. Children exposed to these precarious living conditions are at considerable risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

results

The project withdrew or prevented 1,888 children from trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Project Objectives

To contribute to the prevention and eradication of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Belize.

Intermediate objectives:

  • Generate regional cooperation and shared knowledge to prevent and eradicate CSEC;
  • Assist in formulation of national legislation, policies and programs to combat CSEC; and
  • Increase community and individual action to prevent CSEC and assist CSEC victims.

Summary of Activities
  • Established pilot models in six new communities (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Belize) to prevent and eradicate CSEC and assist victims;
  • Carried out awareness-raising campaigns through radio and media spots;
  • Generated and disseminated written information on CSEC and developed a project website for dissemination of lessons learned and good practices;
  • Trained media on how to investigate and report CSEC;
  • Trained officials from public institutions, NGOs, and businesses in: police investigation; prevention of CSEC; care for victims of trafficking and CSEC; legislative reform; and industry-specific responses to CSEC;
  • Conducted exchanges among participating countries to build regional institutional capacity and cooperation; and
  • Promoted regional agreements and networks against CSEC.
GRANTEE International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC)

ImplemeNTING Partners

Casa Alianza Honduras, Centro de Estudios y Capacitación Familiar, Asociación de Justicia de Jutiapa, Centro de Información y Acción, Fundación Pediátrica Guatemalteca, Youth Enhancement Services, Instituto de Promoción Humana

Contact Information

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT)

(202) 693-4843