DELEGATES at the first World Congress on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children yesterday declared all-out war on the billion-dollar industry which affects more than two million children across the world.
The 1,200 delegates from 126 countries and some 50 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) gathered in the Swedish capital to tackle the global problem, as gruesome headlines on a suspected Belgian kidnapping and paedophile ring continued around the world.
"No loophole should remain open" in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children, the German Foreign Minister, Mr Klaus Kinkel, told the delegates on the opening day of the five-day conference. "The perpetrators must not be allowed to feel safe anywhere."
Mr Austin Currie, the Minister of State with special responsibility for child care, speaking yesterday on behalf of the European Union, said the commercial sexual exploitation of children was growing worldwide. The use of the Internet to transmit pornographic images and promote sexual contact with children was evidence of this trend.
He said it was encouraging that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child had almost reached universal ratification.
According to Mr Ron O'Grady - the international co-ordinator of End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism (ECPAT), Asian children will "receive 10 to 12 million adult male customers during the week we are in Stockholm" for the conference.
Delegates are expected to adopt a non-binding declaration and action programme today.
Opening the conference, the Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Goran Persson, called for an end to the most brutal, the most savage and disgusting category of crime" and voiced a strong message to delegates: "The depth of our compassion will be put to the test, by, our willingness to take action."
Several countries proposed measures to improve the situation. The EU Commissioner for Immigration, Home Affairs and Justice, Ms Anita Gradin, urged Europol to take greater action and called for increased co-operation with NGOs.
The delegates are expected to attend regional and national meetings on Friday to draw up concrete action plans.