HRC46: CHRI's Video Intervention in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children

02 March 2020, Geneva: CHRI delivered a video oral statement in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the sale and exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and any other child sexual abuse material (Agenda Item 3) at the 46th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. CHRI was amongst the ten civil society organisations that made a video or an in-person intervention during the interactive dialogue, following the presentation by Special Rapporteur, Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh, of her report addressing the impact of coronavirus disease on different manifestations of sale and sexual exploitation of children.

The statement, delivered by Mr. Richard Hydes, welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s report highlighting the impact of coronavirus-related school closures increasing the vulnerability of children to exploitation both on- and off-line. CHRI also highlighted gaps in states’ legislation, presenting data showing that only fifty seven percent and seventy percent of Commonwealth countries have criminalised child prostitution and pornography, respectively. CHRI urged states to take concerted action to bring domestic laws in line with international standards, and to continue to collaborate with civil society to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Targets 8.7 and 16.2.

You can read the statement here and watch the video below: