A/HRC/7/8
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System. In September 2007, Ecuador launched the National Programme of Special Protection
and to address children’s rights violations and compensation. Although the State does not
operate specific centres dedicated to the attention of the children, economic support is
provided to private institutions. Several NGOs were working in different programmes and
activities, for instance the Instituto Nacional de la Niñez y la Familia, the Esquel and Quimera
Foundations or the Catholic Relief Services. The Quimera Foundation in Machala operates the
only rehabilitation centre in Ecuador for children and teenagers who are victims of sexual
exploitation. Ecuador finances these activities from the ILO/IPEC Programme, USAID, the
Foundation Esquel/USAID and IOM/USAID. Civil society institutions work with a budget from
donors, and it is envisaged that the National Programme of Special Protection could finance
these projects and new ones to come.
49. El Salvador stated that specific units for the investigation of sexual exploiters and/or
people traders were established within the “Fiscalía General de la República” (FGR) and the
Civil National Police (PNC). A specialized unit to protect victims has also been established
within the “Salvadorian Institute for the Integral Development of the Childhood and the
Adolescents” (ISNA). These projects in preventing and protecting victims of sexual commercial
exploitation receive financial support of ILO/IPEC. PASCA-USAID, ILO, UNICEF and IOM
also provide financial support, as well as CARE, SAVE THE CHILDREN and CORDAID in the
fight against commercial sexual exploitation of children. Also worth mentioning are two
significant programmes: “Huellas Angel” supported by Medicos del Mundo Spain and
“Magdalena, Puerto de Acajutla”, in charge of developing a “Children Attention” programme for
victims of sexual commercial exploitation. Finally, the Penal Code was modified, with higher
sentences for the perpetrators of commercial sexual exploitation of children as well as the
creation of a victim’s database, identifying children and teenagers by sex, age and nationality.
50. Finland replied that, in 2005, it adopted an Action Plan against human trafficking, and that
various provisions of the Child Welfare Act and principles of child welfare are complied with in
the treatment of child victims. After the identification of a victim who is presumably a minor,
safe accommodation is provided as soon as possible. The child is provided with adequate
information, care and education in accordance with his or her age. The best ways for the
appropriate organization of emergency services for children are assessed. Measures necessary to
locate the child’s parents or custodians are taken, and an assessment is made of the best ways to
organize other forms of assistance to child victims. Support and assistance measures are linked to
reception facilities for asylum-seekers. In practice these activities include the reception of
customers and the necessary emergency help, housing, social and health-care services, advisory
and legal services, as well as support for their integration or safe return, and special services
required by minors. These measures are organized both by the two State-run reception centres,
other authorities, or on a contract basis by NGOs and the private sector. One of the reception
centres concentrates on adults and another on under-age victims. Also, several NGOs have
activities against the abuse and exploitation of children, focusing partly on the sale of children,
child prostitution and child pornography. The main difficulties encountered have been reaching
the victims (Finland is considered a transit country for under-age victims) and keeping the
under-age victims in the scope of the assistance system instead of returning into the hands of the
criminals.
51. Georgia stated that there had been very few reported cases of child victims of sexual
commercial exploitation or who had been trafficked, but that its laws and regulations were up to
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