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Interview with Dr June Kane

Dr June Kane has worked on the issue of sexual exploitation since the mid 90s. She is one of the Council of Europe's expert group and has helped to build up the REACT tool to measure how governments are putting into action the commitments of previous conferences.

08.07.2005

Question: What has changed in the ten years you have worked on sexual exploitation?

Dr June Kane: The hugest difference is how much we know. In 1996 we knew very little – only some anecdotal evidence from NGOs. We were not sure what the problems were and it was very hard to plan action. We have learnt a great deal – especially from young people themselves, and we are now more strategic and focussed. This is one of the reasons we developed the REACT tool as a way of keeping that focus, and building our knowledge. Twenty five of the Council’s 46 member countries have replied to it, and I hope the others do also. …without that information we won’t know if we are helping, hindering, or if we are having no effect whatsoever.

Question: What are the issues now?

Dr June Kane: Another thing that has changed is our knowledge of the scope of the problem. At first we concentrated on sex tourism, but it soon became clear that there were only a small number of men travelling aboard for sex with children. In fact, the problem is much wider. Children are abused in their own countries – in families, in schools; by family members, teachers and friends. Sexual violence is hidden, children do not talk about it.

Question: Does Europe have special problems?

Dr June Kane: Sexual exploitation takes many forms and there are different trends in different regions. I have worked a lot in the Mekong, and there the problem is prostitution as the older people die of HIV/AIDS, their place is being taken by younger and younger prostitutes. In Europe, the problem is sexual abuse in families and the community the fact that adults think its OK to have sex with children. There are a lot fewer paedophiles than are popularly imaged. More children are abused by adults who people blur the line because of our sexualised society. There is a lot of pressure on kids to start their sex lives earlier, and expectation by adults that this is normal. This is why we must listen to children and young people, and act on what they say they know the problem, and they have the ideas and expertise to help us tackle it.