ABSTRACT

Article 12(1) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 ('the Convention') is innovative in recognising children's autonomy according to age and maturity. This chapter examines the historical background of the Convention and other international instruments relevant to children, sexuality, and human rights and the work of UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Convention deals with children's rights through the so-called 'four Ps': protection, prevention, provision and participation. Article 19, 24(3), 34, 35 and 36 deals with sexual abuse in family, female genital mutilation, exploitation, including prostitution and pornography, and sale and trafficking of children and other forms of exploitation. The origins of these articles are complex and lay in articles VI and IX of first Polish draft. Pornography, prostitution and trafficking remain among most serious abuses of children. They are international as well as national problems, but must be dealt with by national governments since there is no adequate international enforcement body.