United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund

TOPIC 1: Tackling the issue of child prostitution

Child prostitution involves exploiting children for sexual acts in return for money or other benefits, affecting both boys and girls due to their vulnerability. This exploitation is driven by perpetrators’ desire for control, novelty, and perceived impunity. The primary driver behind this exploitation is poverty, leading some parents to sell their children into this grim trade, while others are kidnapped and forced into prostitution networks. This exploitation severely impacts the children’s mental health and future, often trapping them in a cycle where they might become exploiters themselves.Marginalized and without education, these children face rejection, lack access to healthcare, and live in poor conditions, increasing their risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections since numerous clients refuse to have protected sexual encounters with a child. Child prostitutes are in greater demand than ever before because of the mistaken notion that they are less likely to be infected by HIV. Virgins are presented at high prices to brothel clients as AIDS-free. They are exploited, and many become pregnant.