Thank you. We thank the Special Rapporteur for efforts to report on the abuses that children face and for recommendations on how to address the systemic roots of child sexual exploitation.
As your report highlights, the situational status of families, the digital space and new technologies, and institutional and alternative settings for children are among some of the root causes for child sexual exploitation and abuse. The United States has committed to addressing these root causes directly and has focused on addressing other factors — such as actions taken to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic — that exacerbate some of these causes.
This year, we launched the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse, which includes efforts to stop the distribution of child sexual abuse materials and the sexual exploitation of children. The Department of Homeland Security’s Child Exploitation Investigations Unit continues to identify and rescue child victims around the world and trains international law enforcement partners in investigative practices.
The Administration also expanded the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan, which lifted millions of children and families out of poverty and has concentrated critical funding to support community child abuse prevention programs.
Our question for the Special Rapporteur is: What measures can be taken by states to foster cooperation with the information, communications, and technology sectors to address child sexual abuse and exploitation?
Original source can be found here.
