United Nations Radio

The Third World Congress against the Sexual Exploitation of Children continues today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

More than 3,000 participants are attending the meeting, which is sponsored by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the global network ECPAT which stands for End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes.

Willie Otim, Commissioner of Youth and Children's Affairs in Uganda, says while his government is worried that child sexual abuse is on the increase, steps are being taken to fight it.

"There's a new Bill which Parliament is working on, a bill on trafficking in persons which has got a connection with child sexual abuse and exploitation. We are also working on the recommendations of the UN Convention on the rights of the child that include fight against child sexual abuse."

Mr. Otim says Uganda is working with its neighbours in East Africa on mutual concerns such as trafficking and child labour. He stressed the importance of the need to change attitudes towards these issues, in addition to empowering children to defend themselves from abuse.

This is Dianne Penn for UN Radio.

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