ECPAT is the only leading global network exclusively dedicated to ending child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes.

International network

It serves as the Secretariat overseeing more than 82 local organizations in 75 countries. ECPAT has been the primary force organizing three World Congresses and helping participating countries develop Action Plans to stop the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The statistics are grim.

The International Labour Organization estimates that up to 1.8 million children are exploited in the commercial sex industry or pornography worldwide. The manner in which children are sexually exploited is evolving through the growth of international tourism, the ever-expanding use of new technologies, and the impact of poverty and natural disasters on children’s vulnerabilities

Global advocacy

The growing complexity of the industry only drives ECPAT to work harder. The last few years have seen some of ECPAT’s greatest achievements to date including the presentation in 2011 of more than seven million Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People campaign petitions to the UN Human Rights Council. Conducted in partnership with The Body Shop, STOP is the largest human rights petition on a single issue ever presented to the United Nations.

Protecting children

ECPAT developed The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. It is considered the most efficient industry tool to combat child sex tourism and includes more than 1,000 private sector companies from 40+ countries working in the hospitality, tourism and technology fields.

From its global advocacy work to its capacity building, education and youth empowerment, ECPAT has been leading the world on a path to end the horrific abuses of child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking.