Human Trafficking in [Ecuador] [other countries]
Street Children in [Ecuador] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Ecuador] [other countries]
 

Child Prostitution

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Republic of Ecuador [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

The Republic of Ecuador [map] is located in W South America and is bounded by Colombia (N), by Peru (S & E), and by the Pacific Ocean (W). Its capital is Quito; and the largest city and chief port is Guayaquil. The government and society have made concerted efforts that are showing some positive results in addressing inequality and poverty.

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Ecuador. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated, misleading or even false. No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

National Plan of Action

Quick Search for Missing Children - Select Gender, Country (Ecuador), and Years Missing

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - The commercial sexual exploitation of children occurs in Ecuador. ILO-IPEC estimated that there were 5,200 girls and adolescents in situations of sexual exploitation in 2002, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Ecuador is a country of origin, transit and destination for the trafficking of persons, but most child victims are trafficked internally for prostitution.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS - The country was a source, transit, and destination country for persons trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor. The most recent statistics, from a 2002 International Labor Organization report, estimated 5,200 minors were engaged in prostitution. Ecuadorians were trafficked to Western Europe, primarily Italy and Spain, and other Latin American countries. Some Colombians were trafficked into prostitution in the country. Internally, adults and children were trafficked into prostitution. Anecdotal evidence showed that traffickers lured young victims romantically or with promises of dignified employment and then forced them into prostitution. Some poverty-stricken parents also sold their children, wittingly or unwittingly, into prostitution or forced labor in agriculture, including banana plantations, or mines.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2005

[69] The Committee takes note with appreciation of the considerable efforts undertaken by the State party, and the various studies conducted by different institutions regarding the issue of sexual exploitation and trafficking of children, as reported by the State party. The Committee expresses its deep concern at the high number of children involved in commercial sexual exploitation and at the insufficient measures adopted by the State party in this regard.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

[23] The Committee is deeply concerned about the high incidence of sexual abuse, prostitution of girls and boys under the age of 18 in urban areas, exploitation of children and the lack of a comprehensive strategy to address these problems.

[24] The Committee is concerned about trafficking in minors, especially indigenous minors.

ECPAT: Fifth Report on implementation of the Agenda for Action [DOC]

[B] COUNTRY UPDATES – ECUADOR – The NGO Corporación de la Promoción de la Mujer has now completed its research into sexual exploitation in Machala, Lago Agrio and Cuenca. The research has been important in drawing attention to CSEC and placing the issue on the public agenda. The research found that most child victims of CSE are girls who come from poor families and have very low levels of education. Most had already suffered some form of sexual abuse or violence. The profiles of the exploiters include young and old men, Ecuadorians, Colombians and North Americans, bar owners, oil workers, civil servants including public health officials and businessmen. The research also identified internal trafficking of children for sexual purposes within Ecuador.

Country Narrative

Ecuador is a source, transit, and destination country for persons trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. Many victims are children trafficked for sexual exploitation; in 2003, the ILO estimated that over 5,000 minors in Ecuador were being exploited in prostitution.

Country information: Ecuador

COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN IN TOURISM - Investigations show that in 1999 every second child came from a family that was not able to pay for food, housing, education, and medical care. As a consequence, these children do not go to school, and 20.5% are forced to start work at ages between 5 and 9 years and 53% between 10 and 14 years. In a country that is struggling against underemployment and employment, often the only opportunity to offer itself is prostitution. They then become victims of exploitation by traffickers and sex tourists.

Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Between Venezuela and Ecuador

BACKGROUND - Children from Ecuador are trafficked into Venezuela to serve as prostitutes and work as street vendors and housemaids. The victims are usually children who are kidnapped, sold by their parents, or deceived by false employment opportunities. These children are first exploited through prostitution at the average age of 12. Children as young as 7 years old have been found to be sexually exploited.

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Human Trafficking in [Ecuador] [other countries]
Street Children in [Ecuador] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Ecuador] [other countries]