Stop the abuse of children during the World Cup

In Brazil, reports of child sexual abuse increased by more than 25% during the World Cup. The UK Government has pledged to tackle transnational child abuse and bring offenders to justice: now is the time for action.

Brazil, like many other tourist destinations, has an entrenched problem of child sexual exploitation – in 2011 there were more than 250,000 child victims of sexual slavery in the country. While hosting big events that attract many more tourists – such as the World Cup – vulnerable children are at a heightened risk of exploitation.

Right now, in the shadows of football stadiums and hotels throughout the country, thousands of children suffer the horrors of sexual slavery in silence – often at the hands of foreign travellers. For example, hundreds of cases have been documented recently where British nationals have travelled abroad and sexually abused children, attempting to avoid prosecution by local and UK authorities.

This has to stop. The UK Government has pledged to bring offenders to justice: now is the time for action, starting with the Brazil World Cup.

Tell UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to immediately introduce measures that make it easier to investigate and prosecute travelling British offenders, and protect vulnerable children.