Addressing the unaddressed issue at SLMUN 2018: UNICEF tackles ‘Child Prostitution and Trafficking’
This year, SLMUN will be simulating a committee that will surely get the youth hyped up because it deals with issues pertaining to them. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) committee will be tackling issues regarding ‘Child Prostitution and Trafficking’. The youth, the generation that is facing this issue will be giving solutions to protect their generations from this issue that is widely unspoken about, especially in Sri Lanka.
The UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. UNICEF advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future.
The United Nations General Assembly created UNICEF on 11 December 1946, to supply dried milk, nutritional supplements, medicines, immunizations and other urgent assistance to help starving and ill children affected by World War II. The Polish physician Ludwik Rajchman is widely regarded as the founder of UNICEF and served as its first chairman from 1946. In cooperation with governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), UNICEF saves and protects the world’s most vulnerable children, working to ensure child rights and providing health care, immunizations, nutrition, access to safe water and sanitation services, basic education, protection and emergency relief. UNICEF is a part of the Global Movement for Children–a broad coalition dedicated to improving the life of every child. Through this movement, and events such as the United Nations Special Session on Children, UNICEF encourages young people to speak out and participate in the decisions that positively make an impact in their lives.
UNICEF upholds the Convention on the Rights of the Child and works to assure equal- ity for those who are discriminated against, girls and women in particular. UNICEF works for the Millennium Development Goals and for the progress promised in the United Nations Charter and strives for peace and security. UNICEF acts so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. UNICEF works to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is a right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. UNICEF helps children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity.
The conference topic for SLMUN this year is “Addressing the issues of Child Prostitution and Trafficking.” In 2012 the UNODC reported a 7% increase of child sex trafficking within 3 years. As of 2015, the percentage of child victims of sexual crimes was 27% according to the UNODC. For every three victims, two are girls and one is a boy. According to an estimation done by the UNICEF in 2014, about 120 million girls under the age of 20 have been sexually abused within their childhood years. This industry earns about 32 billion dollars worldwide by forcing about 2 million children to this industry each year. Sexual violence can result in serious psychological effects. UNICEF works to prevent abuse and aid the survivors of sexual violence against children by getting involved with government social welfare programs and education sectors. This issue is very prevalent in the world yet it is hardly spoken about. According to the ILO and the UNICEF, around 40 000 children in Sri Lanka are victims of child prostitution and sexual exploitation yet no one ever speaks up on this issue. The time is now ripe for the youth of Sri Lanka to be aware and speak out against this heinous crime.
Delegates in the UNICEF would have a very engaging and passionate discourse regarding this topic as it is an issue that currently affects the youth and children alike. UNICEF is a committee that is suitable for all types of delegates- from the novice MUNers to the very advanced delegates. UNICEF delegates are those who are passionate about child rights and human rights. Knowing about current affairs and international laws and convention on youth and children will be what makes you stand out in the committee.
To speak up about this unaddressed issue which robs children of their childhood, and to do your part in protecting your generation and future generations- register soon on www. slmun.org. Final phase of registrations will be closed by July 20th 2018, so hurry up and register! Be a part of the generation that is unafraid to speak out and redefine global diplomacy!
Leon Nisal and Sasanka
Meegamarachchi