In 1834 Slavery was abolished...
But in 2012, 1.2 million children and young people will be sold, traded, raped, beaten and abused. Several million children will be forced into sex work to meet the growing demand. Child sex and sex trafficking will be one of the top 3 black markets, internationally grossing 27 billion US dollars every year.
In New Zealand, one in four girls will be sexually exploited by the age of 16. Approximately two hundred child prostitutes will continue to work alongside countless others in an invisible sex industry, and child pornography websites will receive 50,000 clicks a day from New Zealand - that's 18 million clicks a year supporting an industry that trades in selling children as a commodity.
On the surface these are just statistics, but if you look a little closer, it could affect you, your children, your little brothers and sisters, your friends or your neighbors.
In 2012, unless we start to talk about it, this will all happen silently and unimpeded.
We can no longer sweep it under the rug!
YPP Uni Tour begins soon
Be in For Lucky Draw - Free IPAD
Register Now, result notified on 15th March, 2012
Six events will take place in the six main Universities of New Zealand: Auckland, Waikato, Palmerston North, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch. The tour will commence at the beginning of the University year at the end of February 2012, in conjunction with each University's orientation week.
Students will be given the opportunity to visit an ECPAT branded photo booth and enter a competition for an IPAD. You too can enter the competition by completing the form below and sending it to us. Promotional literature to encourage and support the beginning of action groups led by volunteers in each city will be distributed and young people invited to join our activities.
ECPAT’s YPP (Youth Participation Project) is currently in development mode in New Zealand!! Don’t Sweep it Under the Rug is the youth movement of ECPAT Child ALERT with a vision to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children in New Zealand and around the world. Youth are the new generation motivated to be a voice for the voiceless through creative advocacy, campaigns, a website, education, and support to fight for the rights and freedom of every child.
As a young person of today you are a legitimate social actor, rights holder, and are a part of the next generation who will shape tomorrows society. With your passion, energy and fresh new ideas you are capable of making great change in your communities and beyond. Change needs to be made and who better to positively influence the values and change the attitudes of our next leadership generation than youth themselves!
For more information or to get involved email us at
youth@ecpat.org.nz