CRC/C/ECU/CO/4
Sexual exploitation and abuse
74.
The Committee welcomes the 2007 National Tourism Plan (PLANDETUR) aimed,
inter alia, at preventing the commercial sexual exploitation of children. It is however
concerned at the inadequate measures in place to prevent sexual exploitation of children,
and the low number of prosecutions for these offences. It is also concerned at the high rate
of children who are victims of sexual abuse and the lack of information on the exact nature
of these cases, and that they seem not to have been properly investigated and prosecuted.
75.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Train prosecutors, judges and other public officials on how to identify,
investigate and sanction sexual exploitation and abuse of children, being sensitive to
their right to privacy, confidentiality and special needs;
(b)
Collect statistics on the victims disaggregated by the nature of the
offence, sex, age and ethnicity in order to monitor properly; and
(c)
Implement appropriate policies and programmes for the prevention,
recovery and reintegration of child victims, in accordance with the outcome
documents adopted at the 1996, 2001 and 2008 world congresses against sexual
exploitation of children.
Sale, trafficking and abduction
76.
The Committee welcomes the 2006 National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking,
Smuggling of Migrants, Sexual Exploitation, Labour Exploitation, Prostitution,
Pornography and Other Forms of Exploitation of Women and Children. However, the
Committee remains concerned at the high number of children trafficked internationally and
within the country, from border and Central Highland areas to urban centres, for
commercial sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced begging and forced labour in
mines and other hazardous work. It is further concerned that some children are sold by their
parents for forced labour, and that, if recovered, these children may be brought back to live
with their parents.
77.
The Committee recommends that the State party;
(a)
Investigate and prosecute sale and trafficking offences and prosecute
and punish all the perpetrators, particularly at the local level;
(b)
Increase training for law enforcement and other public officials;
(c)
Develop a comprehensive strategy to monitor and identify child victims
of sale and trafficking among children who are most susceptible to these practices;
and
(d)
Take all necessary measures, including educational and financial
support, to prevent parents from selling their children.
Administration of juvenile justice
78.
The Committee welcomes that the 2008 Constitution establishes a new specialized
system of justice for children in conflict with the law (art. 341) and indicates expressly that
deprivation of liberty will only be used exceptionally and children will be detained
separately from adults. It also appreciates that the draft Code on Criminal Guarantees
maintains four years as the maximum length for privation of liberty. However, the
Committee is concerned that:
(a)
The drafting of the Code on Criminal Guarantees (Código de Garantías
Penales) is moving away from a specialized system of justice for children;
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