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

Child Prostitution

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Swiss Confederation (Switzerland) [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

The Swiss Confederation [map] is a federal republic located in central Europe and bordered by France (W & SW), with the Jura Mts. and the Lake of Geneva (traversed by the Rhône River) forming the frontier. In the north it is separated from Germany by the Rhine River and Lake Constance. Its eastern neighbors are Austria and Liechtenstein, and in the southeast and south it is divided from Italy by the Alpine crests, the Lake of Lugano, and Lago Maggiore. The federal capital is Bern, and the largest city is Zürich.

Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western European economies. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003, with a small rise to 1.8% in 2004. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Switzerland. 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.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2004

CHILDREN - With respect to the prosecution of child sexual abuse abroad, the law provides for prosecution in Switzerland only if the act is considered a crime in the country in which it took place.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2002

[52] While welcoming the amendments to the Penal Code prohibiting the possession of hard-core pornography, including child pornography and the establishment of a new centre against cyber-crime in 2003, the Committee remains concerned at the lack of knowledge about the scope of sexual exploitation of children, in particular vulnerable groups, in the State party.

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

[B] COUNTRY UPDATES – SWITZERLAND – According to government sources the Federal Council has adopted a Plan of Action following the UN Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. In that plan, there is a chapter on measures to improve the situation of girls including protection against sexual exploitation.

Report by Special Rapporteur [DOC]

[69] The Penal Code criminalizes the trafficking of human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation.  The encouragement of a minor to prostitute him-/herself, the use of children in the production of pornography, and, since April 2002, the possession of child pornography are criminal offences. However, children who have reached the age of sexual consent (16) may legally prostitute themselves.

ECPAT Switzerland

RECENT ACTIVITIES: In a previous year, ECPAT Switzerland conducted research into the incidence of CSEC in Switzerland. More recently the organization produced an extensive report on areas where there is need to take action against CSEC in the country. ECPAT Switzerland will continue to pressure the central government to develop a plan of action against CSEC as per its commitment at the Stockholm Congress in 1996.

ECPAT International Newsletters - Issue No:27  1/May/1999

http://www.ecpat.net/eng/Ecpat_inter/IRC/articles.asp?articleID=151&NewsID=21

STUDY ON CHILD PROSTITUTION - ECPAT Switzerland published in March its report on “Child Prostitution in Switzerland”. The 60 documented cases and eight in-depth interviews with victims show that commercial sexual abuse of children includes domestic violence, where fathers, stepfathers and other relatives rape children and then sell them to dealers for money. At the same time, cases of children who flee from home to the streets and make their living from prostitution were also found.

Rights Of The Child - Report Of The Special Rapporteur [DOC]

[69] The Penal Code criminalizes the trafficking of human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation. One case involving a minor was reported in 1997 and two in 1998. A parliamentary commission is currently examining proposed legislation to improve the situation of foreign victims of trafficking. The encouragement of a minor to prostitute him-/herself, the use of children in the production of pornography, and, since April 2002, the possession of child pornography are criminal offences. However, children who have reached the age of sexual consent (16) may legally prostitute themselves.

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