Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography

The Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, supplementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000.UN document |docid=A-RES-54-263 |type=Resolution |body=General Assembly |session=54 |resolution_number=263 |date=25 March 2000|title=Optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography|accessdate=2008-03-19]

To date, the protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography has 115 signatories, [cite web|title=Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography - Status|publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/ratification/11_c.htm|accessdate=2008-03-18] and the protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict has 122 signatories. [cite web|title=Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict - Status|publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/ratification/11_b.htm|accessdate=2008-03-18]

In terms of the protocol, states must protect the rights and interests of child victims of trafficking, child prostitution and child pornography, child labour and especially the worst forms of child labour.

The protocol promotes international law enforcement through provisions covering diverse issues such as jurisdictional factors; extradition; mutual assistance in investigations, criminal or extradition proceedings and seizure and confiscation of assets. Unlike the CRC, in terms of which state parties commit themselves only to taking ‘appropriate measures’ to prevent certain practices, the protocol places an explicit obligation on states to make certain activities relating to the sale of children a criminal offence.

Definitions

;Sale of children:any act or transaction whereby a child is transferred by any person or group of persons to another for remuneration or any other consideration

;Child prostitution:the use of a child in sexual activities for remuneration or any other form of consideration;

;Child pornography:any representation, by whatever means, of a child engaged in real or simulated explicit sexual activities or any representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes.

Sweden clarified its interpretation of child pornography as applying only to visual representations, and not applying to adults acting, posing or dressing as a child. [ UN document |docid=A-54-PV.97 |body=General Assembly |type=Verbotim Report |session=54 |meeting=97 |page=4 |anchor=pg004-bk02 |date=25 May 2000 |speakername=Mr. Hedman | speakernation=Sweden |accessdate=2008-03-19 ]

References