Annual Full Day Meeting on the Rights of the Child
UN Human Rights Council, 31st Session
Geneva,
March 7, 2016
As delivered by Amanda Wall.
The United States supports efforts to protect children from online sexual exploitation, which poses a grave challenge to nations around the world, including our own.
Many federal programs address the online sexual exploitation of children. For example, the U.S. Department of Justice prosecutes federal offenses involving child sexual exploitation, and supports initiatives like Project Safe Childhood. This project brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to respond to the abuse and exploitation of minors.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation investigates child sexual exploitation through its Violent Crimes Against Children Program. This bureau works with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on 71 Child Exploitation Task Forces to investigate cases of child sexual exploitation.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has dedicated resources to investigate large-scale producers and distributors of child pornography, as well as U.S. citizens who travel abroad to engage in sex with minors. This team uses the latest technology to collect evidence and track the activities of individuals and organized groups.
The United States considers child sexual exploitation a serious offense, and we will continue to take steps to identify offenders, bring them to justice, and protect victims.
In light of all this, the United States would pose the following question,
Question:
What concrete steps can be taken to improve information-sharing, evidence-sharing, and coordination between States in the prevention of online sexual exploitation of children?
(end statement)