Overture 19

On Condemning International Trafficking In and Sexual Exploitation of Children—From the Synod of the Northeast.

The Synod of the Northeast respectfully overtures the 217th General Assembly (2006) to do the following:

1. Condemn international trafficking1 in and sexual exploitation of children, which affects 2 million children annually.

2. Direct the General Assembly Council, through its National Ministries Division, its Justice and Compassion mission area, and the associate for Child Advocacy to raise awareness within our presbyteries and local churches and to

• provide educational resources and reference lists, and
• network with other groups advocating on this issue, including ECPAT.2

3. Direct the General Assembly Council, through its Worldwide Ministries Division,

• to educate mission workers about the issue of international trafficking in children and sex tourism;
• to familiarize staff and personnel with this issue.

4. Recommend to synods and presbyteries that their members become educated on this issue and engage in advocacy and action to end exploitation of all children around the world

• providing resource centers with resources and reference lists;
• conducting seminars such as the Presbyterian U.N. Seminar on this topic sponsored by the Synod of the Northeast in August 2005.

5. Direct the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and the Moderator of the General Assembly to send a written communication to the members of U.S. Senate urging that the U.S. ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

6. Direct the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and the Moderator of the General Assembly to send a written communication to the members of U.S. Congress supporting federal legislation “End Demand for Sex Trafficking” (H.R. 2012 and S.937), which has already been introduced.

7. Direct the Stated Clerk of General Assembly and the Moderator of the General Assembly to send a written communication to the general secretary of the United Nations

• commending the High Office on Human Rights and UNICEF for their diligent global efforts to protect children from international trafficking and sexual exploitation;
• supporting ratification and enforcement of international laws that protect children, such as the International Labour Organization’s (ILG) Convention No. 182 that prohibits the worst forms of child labour, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, and the Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography;
• requesting the World Health Organization to consider the impact of international trafficking of children and sexual exploitation of children as they consider and deal with health issues related to the HIV/AIDS global pandemic.

8. Urge members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) not to do business with companies in the travel and tourism industry that have not signed the “Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Commercial Exploitation in Travel and Tourism,” seeking ethics to be linked with economics, as in the boycotting of South African products and companies during Apartheid3 or the “Nestle Boycott” during the 1980s.

9. Request the General Assembly to continue to provide support of and funding for EPCAT in its work of advocating on behalf of children who are sexually exploited and in caring for child victims of sex tourism. [Presbyterian Women and PCUSA entities in the Synod of the Northeast have previously given grant funds to EPCAT.]

10. Direct the Stated Clerk of General Assembly and the Moderator of the General Assembly to send letters of appreciation to the three U.S. companies who have signed the Code of Conduct: The Carlson Corporation and Radisson for their courage and leadership in signing the Code of Conduct, as well as the travel agencies in Boston and Philadelphia, which have also signed.

Rationale

Two million children are victims of sexual exploitation and 1.2 million children are trafficked annually (which is 2½ times the population of the city of New Orleans).

One hundred ninety-two of the 194 member states of the U.N. have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the only exceptions being Somalia and the U.S.4

Only three U.S. companies have signed the “Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Commercial Exploitation in Travel and Tourism,” yet an estimated one-fourth of international child sex tourists are Americans.

The international demand for children in the sex trade is high because of the belief that children are less likely to be infected with HIV/AIDS.

The 1994 Crime Bill (the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act) makes it illegal for a U.S. citizen to travel overseas in order to engage in sexual acts with a minor, but few Americans know of its existence, and it is not strongly enforced.

The 2000 Trafficking Victims Prevention Act offers some protection for children brought to this country in the sex trade, however it is difficult to enforce and victims are hard to identify. Also it does not protect U.S. children.

Sex tourists usually believe it is legal and culturally acceptable to sexually exploit children in other countries, and often state that the impoverished children benefit by the payment received.

Trafficking is a global problem affecting large number of children every year. Children and their families are often lured by the promise of better employment and a more prosperous life far from their homes.5

Child trafficking is lucrative and linked with criminal activity and corruption. Children who have been trafficked face a range of dangers, including violence and sexual abuse. They are even arrested and detained as illegal aliens—often with little or no access to their parents or other support services.6

The PC(USA) has been a leader in child advocacy and working against trafficking in children and needs to continue our commitment to put faith into action.

Endnotes

1. Definition of Trafficking from UNICEF Factsheet: Trafficking refers to the illegal transport of human beings, in particular women and children, for the purpose of selling them or exploiting their labor.

2. ECPAT’s work is to “End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes.” The original acronym came from “End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism.”

3. The “Sullivan Principles,” which were employed during the apartheid period, were developed into “Global Sullivan Principles of Corporate Responsibility.”

4. President Clinton signed the convention in 1995 with the intent it be ratified, but it has yet to be presented to the full Senate because it remains in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Opponents of the convention claim it might enable the U.N. to usurp national and state sovereignty, undermine parental authority, allow and encourage children to sue parents or have abortions, or enable the U.N. to dictate how we raise and teach our children. These fears are false. For fuller information and facts see www.childrightscampaign.org/crcfacts.htm or contact EPCAT www.ecpatusa.org (718) 935-9192.

5. UNICEF Factsheet: “Trafficking”

6. UNICEF Factsheet: “Trafficking”