Romanian teenager inspired by the World Congress on Sexual Exploitation of children and teenagers
The event brought together more than 3,000 representatives from governments, UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to discuss past achievements, current problems and future challenges in the fight against sexual exploitation.
Children and adolescents, like Madalina B, 15, from a rural community in north eastern Romania had the opportunity to talk directly with adults, raise questions and present their perspectives on the subject.
“I liked the fact that the guest adults have taken into consideration our opinions and have listened to us”, said Madalina. “In one of the workshops, I stood up and spoke about the anti-trafficking project that was implemented in my community by World Vision. The adults present at the work shop congratulated us on our involvement in the project and encouraged us to continue doing this”, Madalina added.
I liked the fact that the guest adults have taken into consideration our opinions and have listened to us. Aside from being able to participate in all the plenary and panel discussions throughout the three-day Congress, children and adolescents wrote their own paper detailing specific recommendations on fighting sexual exploitation. The document was handed to the committee in charge of drafting the final conclusions of the Congress.
“We, children and adolescents, think that it is important to be able to speak to our government and this is why have specifically asked to be invited more often to debates and round tables organised by institutions or organisations fighting against sexual exploitation”, Madalina explained.
A special place for adolescents was also created in the Congress venue and served as a meeting point for young people.
“I loved the adolescent space. There we had the chance to “speak” through drawings, paintings, graffiti, theatre and others. We had a lot of fun there”, Madalina added.
Madalina is part of a local youth group working closely with World Vision Romania to prevent human trafficking in her community. The project started in 2008 and focused on empowering the community to take preventative measures against human trafficking. Initially, teachers, local authorities’ representatives and youth in the community received basic training on trafficking. Then, this group spread the information in three schools in their community, involving children in games and different contests focusing on the issue of trafficking.
Madalina and her friends started out as project beneficiaries, receiving information about the dangers of the trafficking phenomenon. In just a few months, the teenagers wrote and organised a theatre play about trafficking, presented the play several times in the community and took over the information sessions previously conducted by World Vision.
“I think I had a lot to gain from my participation in this Congress - I learned a lot about sexual exploitation of children and I now feel more prepared and more confident in speaking to others about this awful phenomenon that concerns us all”, said Madalina. “Before, I had no idea that children’s prostitution is such a big problem or that the internet can be used in such a way by people who are committing such horrible deeds”, she continued.
Acknowledging that one of the most important steps after the Congress will be follow-up activities, Madalina and her group of friends drafted an action plan that includes speaking to children in the community about sexual exploitation and the other issues raised at the Congress.
At the end of December, Madalina and her friends will perform a theatre play in front of teachers and students in their high school about children that are trafficked in other countries and forced to beg.
I had no idea before that children’s prostitution is such a big problem or that the internet can be used in such a way by people who are committing such horrible deeds Madalina will take this opportunity to also speak about her presence at the Congress and what she learned there.
At the beginning of January 2009 they will continue the activities that were part of the anti-trafficking project developed by World Vision in their community – informational sessions for children in the sixth and seventh grades and different kinds of competitions such as script writing and essay competitions focusing on the problem of trafficking.
“I know that the people in my community are counting on me and will support me in everything I do. My community is the one that is giving me the strength and the power to continue working with the World Vision team in helping my community.
Now, I feel more motivated to keep doing the activities that were part of the anti-trafficking developed by World Vision – we, the young people are going to be very involved and we will continue the activities such as the informational sessions and the theatre play on our own”, Madalina said.
Another key outcome of the Congress was the creation of a communications tool – the www.stopx.org web site targeting an online community of young people who are working against sexual exploitation. The site will allow young people from all over the world to share knowledge, skills and experiences from their own work.
Children and adolescents, like Madalina B, 15, from a rural community in north eastern Romania had the opportunity to talk directly with adults, raise questions and present their perspectives on the subject.
“I liked the fact that the guest adults have taken into consideration our opinions and have listened to us”, said Madalina. “In one of the workshops, I stood up and spoke about the anti-trafficking project that was implemented in my community by World Vision. The adults present at the work shop congratulated us on our involvement in the project and encouraged us to continue doing this”, Madalina added.
I liked the fact that the guest adults have taken into consideration our opinions and have listened to us. Aside from being able to participate in all the plenary and panel discussions throughout the three-day Congress, children and adolescents wrote their own paper detailing specific recommendations on fighting sexual exploitation. The document was handed to the committee in charge of drafting the final conclusions of the Congress.
“We, children and adolescents, think that it is important to be able to speak to our government and this is why have specifically asked to be invited more often to debates and round tables organised by institutions or organisations fighting against sexual exploitation”, Madalina explained.
A special place for adolescents was also created in the Congress venue and served as a meeting point for young people.
“I loved the adolescent space. There we had the chance to “speak” through drawings, paintings, graffiti, theatre and others. We had a lot of fun there”, Madalina added.
Madalina is part of a local youth group working closely with World Vision Romania to prevent human trafficking in her community. The project started in 2008 and focused on empowering the community to take preventative measures against human trafficking. Initially, teachers, local authorities’ representatives and youth in the community received basic training on trafficking. Then, this group spread the information in three schools in their community, involving children in games and different contests focusing on the issue of trafficking.
Madalina and her friends started out as project beneficiaries, receiving information about the dangers of the trafficking phenomenon. In just a few months, the teenagers wrote and organised a theatre play about trafficking, presented the play several times in the community and took over the information sessions previously conducted by World Vision.
“I think I had a lot to gain from my participation in this Congress - I learned a lot about sexual exploitation of children and I now feel more prepared and more confident in speaking to others about this awful phenomenon that concerns us all”, said Madalina. “Before, I had no idea that children’s prostitution is such a big problem or that the internet can be used in such a way by people who are committing such horrible deeds”, she continued.
Acknowledging that one of the most important steps after the Congress will be follow-up activities, Madalina and her group of friends drafted an action plan that includes speaking to children in the community about sexual exploitation and the other issues raised at the Congress.
At the end of December, Madalina and her friends will perform a theatre play in front of teachers and students in their high school about children that are trafficked in other countries and forced to beg.
I had no idea before that children’s prostitution is such a big problem or that the internet can be used in such a way by people who are committing such horrible deeds Madalina will take this opportunity to also speak about her presence at the Congress and what she learned there.
At the beginning of January 2009 they will continue the activities that were part of the anti-trafficking project developed by World Vision in their community – informational sessions for children in the sixth and seventh grades and different kinds of competitions such as script writing and essay competitions focusing on the problem of trafficking.
“I know that the people in my community are counting on me and will support me in everything I do. My community is the one that is giving me the strength and the power to continue working with the World Vision team in helping my community.
Now, I feel more motivated to keep doing the activities that were part of the anti-trafficking developed by World Vision – we, the young people are going to be very involved and we will continue the activities such as the informational sessions and the theatre play on our own”, Madalina said.
Another key outcome of the Congress was the creation of a communications tool – the www.stopx.org web site targeting an online community of young people who are working against sexual exploitation. The site will allow young people from all over the world to share knowledge, skills and experiences from their own work.
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