Child Abuse and Neglect

Nobody's Children Foundation has just published a report from a case - file study on prostitution-related crimes and child trafficking in Poland. It presents conclusions from research on prostitution-related crimes and the crime of trafficking in children for commercial sexual exploitation. English translation is the summary of the full version of the report available in Polish.

Commercial sexual exploitation of children means not only forced prostitution, but also undertaking sexual contacts with minors in exchange for money or gifts. It is a form of child abuse and a crime punished with imprisonment. Although teenagers offering or consenting to sex in exchange for gifts or money can look older than they are in reality, the adults are those responsible for abusing a child.

During big sport events children are more at risk of commercial sexual exploitation due to increased inflow of tourists, feeling of anonymity of offenders in a foreign country and organised crime activity.

Nobody's Children Foundation in Poland and Child Well- being Fund in Ukraine are running educational campaign on the issue of threats associated with commercial sexual exploitation faced by children and youth.

On 11th of May the 5th International Conference „ Prevention of young children abuse" took place in Warsaw Medical University. It was organized by Nobody's Children Foundation within „Childhood without abuse -towards a better child protection system in Eastern Europe" project financed by Oak Foundation and "Smack free home for every child" project financed by European Commission Daphne III.

Nobody's Children Foundation has just launched the social campaign against verbal child abuse "Words hurt for life" that will be carried out in April and May 2012 by the organizations affiliated to the National Partnership for Protection of Children from Violence. It is an attempt to increase parents' awareness on what is verbal violence, on its forms and possible consequences for a child