Most relevant international conventions to prevent and punish the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents

The United Nations international norms, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child in  1989 and more recently with the adoption of its Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and use of child pornography in 2002, have put on relevance the phenomenon of commercial sexual exploitation at a global level.

The inter-American system issued in 1994 the Inter-American Convention on International Child Trafficking which deals with systems of coordination among States to prevent, combat and repair several crimes related, among others, trafficking, prostitution, sexual exploitation, servitude or any other unlawful purpose.

Another international related norms include: Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Optional Protocol to the Palermo Convention called Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking of Persons, Especially Women and Children, that complements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

Conventions relating to the prevention and combat of commercial sexual exploitation:

• Convention on the Rights of the Child

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

• ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor

• Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish the Trafficking of Persons, Especially Women and Children, that complements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

• Inter-American Convention on International Traffic in Minors

Legislation of three States on Commercial Sexual Exploitation:

The Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS) report significant progress in aligning its internal rules to prevent and suppress the commercial sexual exploitation. The Inter-American Children's Institute (IIN) through its Inter-American Observatory on Commercial Sexual Exploitation and other forms of Violence against Children and Adolescents will be published shortly special legislation that is in force in the Member States.

As a preliminary step we present the legislation in force in three States, that already have a specialized legislation on this matter that gives us a sample of the various legislative strategies to curb these crimes:

Costa Rica.
Law 8590 - Strengthening the fight against sexual exploitation of minors. (Spanish)

Honduras.
Decree 234-2005. Reform of the Criminal Code on crimes against liberty and physical integrity, psychological and sexual of people and adding a chapter on commercial sexual exploitation. (Spanish)

Dominican Republic.
Law 136-04. Code for the Protection of Children and Adolescents. Quote of relevant articles on commercial sexual exploitation. (Spanish)
Law 137-03. Smuggling of migrants and trafficking. (Spanish)