The World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation is annually observed across the globe on 4 March to raise awareness and promote action against sexual exploitation. The day aims to protect vulnerable individuals from sexual exploitation and provide support to victims of sexual abuse.
- 4th March has been designated as the World Day of the Fight Against Sexual Exploitation since 2009.
Understanding Sexual Exploitation:
i.The United Nations(UN) defines “sexual exploitation” as any actual or attempted abuse of vulnerability, differential power or trust, for sexual purposes.
ii.It encompasses transactional sex, irrespective of the legal status of sex work in a given country.
iii.It also involves situations where sex is coerced, demanded, or manipulated through various means. This includes withholding or threatening to withhold goods or services, as well as resorting to blackmail.
Acts of Sexual Exploitation:
- Sexual assault, Child sexual exploitation (CSE), and abuse.
- Demanding sex in any context or making sex a condition for assistance.
- Forcing sex or someone to have sex with anyone.
- Forcing a person to engage in prostitution or pornography.
- Unwanted touching of a sexual nature.
- Refusing to use safe sex practices.
Key Facts:
i.The International Labor Organization (ILO) reports nearly 5 million people yearly, predominantly female, are victims of forced sexual exploitation.
- Children comprise more than a fifth of all victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
- Males and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community are also vulnerable.
ii.According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
- At least 120 million girls under 20, roughly 1 in 10, have endured forced sexual acts.
- Most abuse is inflicted by individuals known and trusted by the child.
iii.UNICEF estimated that more than 3 million children worldwide are concerned by prostitution.
iv.ILO estimates that a million people are trafficked every year for purposes of sexual exploitation.
