The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the most widely ratified human rights convention and the first International instrument, which covers the full rights of an individual. It was designed to create a common legal framework through which to increase governmental accountability, bring about legislative reforms and ultimately create a better world environment in which children can develop. Pakistan has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The first World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children was held in Stockholm in 1996 in response to growing concern that the right of children to protection from sexual exploitation was increasingly being violated. At the end of the first World Congress, more than 1,300 participants adopted by consensus the Stockholm Declaration and Agenda for Action (SDAA) against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) which was signed by 122 states present in the Congress, including the Government of Pakistan.

In year 1999-2000, Working Group* (Group of 7 organizations of Pakistan) conducted “A Situation Analysis of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in Pakistan”. The Study was published and widely disseminated all over the Country. It was also shared with the Government Departments and decision-makers. This study was also used for designing the National Plan of Action against Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation as well as a reference document on Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan. The Study showed that Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSA/E) is a serious problem in Pakistan. CSA exists in many forms, both in overt and covert ways, but by and large its severity (or even existence) is denied at the official government level.

Meanwhile after the 2 World Congress in Yokohama in 2001, it was realized that we have very inadequate and patchy information on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. The need was felt that in order to have sector specific interventions; we needed to have a very clear picture on CSEC in Pakistan. The Working Group against Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in Pakistan, then got together to conduct a CSEC situation analysis in Pakistan.

The Working Group on CSA is genuinely concerned over complacency surrounding the issue of CSA/E and lack of concerted efforts, firstly for its adoption and secondly for its implementation in the country The Working Group in its first meeting held on 20th March, 2003 in Peshawar decided to undertake an advocacy campaign with an aim to persuade the government to adopt and start implementing the National Policy and Plan of Action against Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in the country. In order to achieve this objective the Working Group on CSA will act as a catalyst to energize and accelerate its implementation.

* WORKING GROUP consists of PPA, SC-SWEDEN, SCUK, SACH , SAHIL AND ROZAN.