International News (October)
United States
300,000-400,000 children in the US are victims of prostitution, pornography and other forms of commercial sexual activity according to a recent report. The 3 year study, The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the US, Canada and Mexico is the first attempt to quantify and understand the extent of the homeless, or are thrown out by their relatives are most at risk. Thousands of boys and girls aged 9-17 trade sex fro food, shelter, clothing and other basic needs to survive on US streets. The report also found a high incidence of American children living at home exchanging sex with their peers for drugs and money. Recommendations called fro greater attention, funding and resources to be directed to the issue, noting to raise awareness of the hidden problem was also called for.
Cambodia
The Cambodian Minister for Women's affairs has reported Cambodian women and children are being sold as sex slaves and beggars in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. They are lured by people traffickers with the promise of good jobs. The government has launched an anti-trafficking education campaign and a confidential police hotline has been established for reporting trafficking and child sex crimes. The government has also launched a Law Enforcement project against the Sexual Exploitation of Children. As part of the project police operating procedures will be developed for investigation of child sexual exploitation cased and 'train the trainer' modules and materials will be developed for the police.
