The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children [CSEC] online is a phenomenon which is occurring in all countries around the World and is rapidly growing in the South Asian countries.

Over 40 participants from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India representing civil society organizations, international agencies, the private sector and members of ministries of the government of Nepal have been meeting in Kathmandu to discuss the issue of exploitation of children online.

ECPAT International, a global child rights agency focused on combating the sexual exploitation of children, in association with the office of the controller of certification, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Nepal and with th support of ECPAT members groups: Maiti Nepal and Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Center [CWIN] had organized a 2 day regional technical forum in Kathmandu from 23 – 24th of August, to strengthen knowledge of the issues and plan collaborative efforts and programmatic intervention of the member agencies and partners to ensure a multi-stakeholder approach to combat these online sexual crimes against children.     

Ms. Carmen Madrian, the executive dierctor of ECPAT international reminded the forum participants that the online world “is a labyrinth through which to navigate and the compass, guidance and supports that young people receive to guide them on this journey are weak and inconsistent.”

She indicated that “there is no one bullet solution to this problem and a range of different types of interventions by all concerned stake holders, such as the government, NGO’s and the private sector are needed. We all need to work together within a multi-stakeholder framework of protection for children.”
(By Nitish Bhattarai)