A/HRC/2/SR.12 to criminalize the dissemination of child pornography on the Internet. He would welcome suggestions by the Special Rapporteur on possible urgent measures to prevent such abuse. 41. Ms. Janjua (Pakistan), referring to the report by the Independent Expert, said that reducing the crushing debt burden of developing countries was of paramount importance. The Independent Expert might wish to take account of the debt situation of low and middleincome countries and its impact on the enjoyment of all human rights; examine further the impact of debt reduction and the diversion of resources to social sector development, especially in areas relating to women and children; and continue his work on the creation of additional policy space in developing countries. Experience had shown that standard prescriptions for structural reform did not work globally. The focus, including in the work of the Independent Expert, should be on home-grown solutions and country-based requirements. As the human rights machinery was being reviewed in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/251, attention should focus on issues relevant to the Independent Expert’s mandate and of critical interest to developing countries. 42. Mr. Endo (Japan), referring to the report by the Special Rapporteur, reminded the Council of the Second World Congress against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children hosted by Japan in 2001, which had called for the promotion of effective policies to address the commercial sexual exploitation of children. In recognition of the crucial importance of the demand factor in addressing child prostitution, his Government had amended the Law on the Punishment of Acts relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and on the Protection of Children (Law No. 52 of 1999), and had ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The Japanese tourism authorities had signed the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism, obliging travel agents to train personnel concerning destinations and prohibiting sexual exploitation of children in contracts concluded with local agents. Given the fact that measures to counter child prostitution and pornography could only be effective through the cooperation of the countries concerned, the Japanese police had held an international symposium to expand and strengthen cooperation in overseas investigations within SouthEast Asia in 2002. 43. Mr. Tichenor (Observer for the United States of America) agreed that the demand factor in the commercial exploitation of children deserved additional attention. As stated in the report, sex tourism was a serious problem and he invited the Special Rapporteur to elaborate on measures States should take on a priority basis in that area. Commending the Special Rapporteur for his initiative in coordinating his work closely with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, he requested additional information on actions planned. 44. Mr. Zevallos Águilar (Peru) said that his Government had launched an information campaign at all points of entry into Peru to inform foreigners that the exploitation of children was a punishable offence in his country, liable to heavy penalties commensurate with the seriousness of the offence committed. The campaign was being implemented jointly by the Ministry for Women and Social Development and the Ministry of the Interior. The Criminal Code had also been amended recently to establish the sexual abuse of minors as a very serious offence and information campaigns had been conducted to raise public awareness. In addition, the dissemination of child pornography on the Internet had been criminalized and a specialized police unit had been set up to prosecute paedophiles and persons possessing, producing or disseminating child pornography. 45. Mr. Musa (Observer for the Sudan), referring to the report of the Independent Expert, noted that only 10 per cent of developing countries’ debt had been cancelled. Strategies adopted by developed countries vis-à-vis developing countries often failed to take account of the importance of good governance or the debilitating effect of conflict 8 GE.09-17372