The refugee crisis in Europe is likely is see an increase in the risk of sexual exploitation of children, the NGO End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) yesterday reported.
The recent crises and wars have led to the arrival of more than 644,000 refugees and migrants in the European Union this year, 20% of which have been children, often separated from their families. As this widespread insecurity has made children particularly vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation, ECPAT is urging authorities to implement measures to ensure their protection.
Children, particularly those which are unaccompanied, face a precarious situation and are exposed to threats of violence and physical and sexual abuse. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has already receive reports of sexual violence and abuse against refugee women and children during their transit to Europe.
"We have seen in other contexts that migratory situations, voluntary or forced, are accompanied by the presence of smugglers who may be connected to criminal networks," remarked Thomas Kauffmann, Director of ECPAT Luxembourg. "Housing conditions, overcrowding, the lack of spaces devoted to women and children and nocturnal travelling are all identified risk factors".
He added: "Lack of knowledge of these factors, inadequate consideration for the issue and the lack of resources located to the protection of children against the risks of sexual exploitation can only aggravate this situation".
Thursday 20 November 2015 represents Universal Children's Day, representing an important day for raising awareness of this issue so that children, even those that arrive with their families, are rapidly taken care of and that vigilan is paid to the risks of sexual exploitation in order to enfore the appropriate protective responses.
As an increasing number of refugees arrive in the Grand Duchy, of which a certain number are unaccompanied children, ECPAT is urging the Luxembourg authorities to integrate a preventive strategy into their reception measures.
