A/HRC/40/51 2. Communications 11. Summaries of three communications sent by the Special Rapporteur during the reporting period appear in the communications reports of special procedures. III. Study on the sale and sexual exploitation of children in the context of sports A. Objective, scope and methodology 12. The Special Rapporteur wishes to follow up on the work of her predecessor, who looked into the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (A/HRC/22/54) and followed that thematic report with an event on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in the context of major sports events. 2 Moreover, the Special Rapporteur previously dealt briefly with the subject in her thematic report on the sale of children for the purpose of forced labour (A/71/261), in which she highlighted the economic exploitation of child athletes. Regarding the sale of children, she will consequently continue this analysis from a child labour perspective. 13. In the present report the Special Rapporteur first looks at the sale of children and related human rights violations in the practice of sports. She then moves on to focus on the sale and sexual exploitation of children on the margins of major sporting events. Finally, she proposes a set of conclusions and recommendations addressed to States and sports organizations.3 14. The report is based on a review of the available literature on the sale and sexual exploitation of children in the context of sports. The Special Rapporteur wishes to thank several key actors who provided invaluable inputs, namely UNICEF UK, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Oak Foundation, Transparency International Germany, FIFPro, Terre des Hommes International Federation, the Fédération international de Football Association (FIFA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Players Association-UNI Global Union. She looks forward to be able to organize further consultations to follow up on this important subject. B. International legal framework 15. The current international legal framework regarding the sale and sexual exploitation of children sets clear obligations on States. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most ratified human rights instrument in the world, and it is clear that States must take measures to prevent the sale and sexual exploitation of children. Furthermore, non-State actors have human rights responsibilities to protect children and prevent these acts. 16. The sale of children in the context of sports can be analysed within the international legal framework on child labour and its worst forms. Core provisions include article 32 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits any work that could impair the child’s development, and article 35, which forbids the sale of children for any purpose or in any form. 17. ILO defines child labour “as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development”.4 An important aspect, in particular in relation to sports, is that child labour may seriously affect children’s education. 2 3 4 See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Children/Pages/SideEventHRC25.aspx. Throughout the report, the terms “sports organization” and “sports institution” are used interchangeably; they also refer to sports governing bodies as well as sports federations. See www.ilo.org/ipec/facts/lang--en/index.htm. 3