The ECPAT Latin America Regional Consultation against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children wrapped up today in Panama City. The three-day Consultation brought together ECPAT groups from the region, together with leading child-rights experts to discuss the regional strategy to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Latin America. The Consultation kicked off Monday morning with opening remarks from Bernt Aasen, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, attended as a special guest speaker. Ms. Santos Pais spoke to recent developments to the global agenda on violence against girls, boys and adolescents. As part of ECPAT’s child and youth participation strategy, the Consultation also featured presentations and workshops with members of ECPAT’s youth network in Latin America.
As a result of the meeting, regional priorities and strategies were identified for the ECPAT Network in Latin America.