International Symposium on Trafficking of Children

February 18, 2003

The Government of Japan will host the International Symposium on Trafficking of Children jointly with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on February 20 - 21 in Tokyo (United Nations University).
This symposium will take up the trafficking of children, or one of the problems of CSEC, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, as the main topic as a follow-up to the Second World Congress against CSEC, which the Government of Japan held in Yokohama, in December 2001 in cooperation with UNICEF and two NGO groups.
At the Symposium, Dr. Saisuree Chutikul, Vice-Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, will make a keynote speech. NGO representatives involved in the fight against child trafficking mainly in South-East Asia will make presentations at four sessions: "Preventive Measures", "Protection and Rehabilitation for Victims", "Repatriation and Reintegration of Victims into Society" and "Legal Actions: Prosecution, etc.", followed by discussions by participants.
Ms. Shinako Tsuchiya, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Kul Gautum, Deputy Director of UNICEF, will host the Opening Ceremony. The Symposium will also be attended by Mr. Sadakazu Tanigaki, Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, Minister of State (Industrial Revitalization Corporation, Food Safety Commission and Related Matters) as a representative of all the guests.

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