DOWN TO ZERO SUFASEC LAO Sexual exploitation of children (SEC) is a grave violation of children’s rights and affects millions of children and youth annually, regardless of gender. No region, country or child is immune, though girls, boys and children with other gender identities face differing levels of risk to different manifestations of SEC depending on their intersectional vulnerability factors. It impacts heavily and long lastingly on their physical, emotional and mental well-being. It deprives children and youth of establishing healthy (sexual) relationships and from developing to the best of their potential. The SUFASEC programme is designed to combat SEC and will work in 12 countries in Latin America and South and South East Asia: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Philippines and Thailand. The SUFASEC programme is designed to combat SEC by working towards the following long-term impact: “Children in all of their diversity are better protected from sexual exploitation.” This activity forms part of the SUFASEC programme. The long-term impact will be reached through three interlinking objectives that address different dimensions (social norms, assets/environments, and laws/policies/systems). 1. Children, youth and their communities successfully challenge social norms and harmful practices related to SEC 2. Children and youth have access to and are supported by strengthened assets and protective environments 3. Children and civil society meaningfully participate in holding duty bearers, including government and local authorities, accountable to their obligations towards improved (implementation of) laws, policies, and systems. The different stakeholder groups involved in the SUFASEC programme include: - Children and youth in all their diversity: A child-centred approach: children and youth are the most important stakeholders. When children/youth fall victim to SEC the physical and mental impact can be long lasting. The Alliance adheres to the UN definition of child (0-18 years) and youth (15-24 years) - Caregivers and Communities: Critical stakeholders in the community include parents, caregivers, community leaders, teachers, local Community Based Organisations (CBOs), social workers, and other community members involved in community based child protection mechanisms. - CSOs and CBOs: Local child protection organisations support and implement activities at community level, L&A towards national actors, and provide synergies of interventions. - Local and national governments: formulate, endorse and implement laws and public policies related to SEC Private Sector: Travel and tourism orgs (e.g., large and small, hotels, transport), as well as ICT/ Digital Service Providers have interest to avoid SEC taking place within their value chain, and to avoid having their products and services used to facilitate SEC - International donors, Intergovernmental bodies, INGOs, Multilateral entities55: Targeted audiences and partners for evidence based regional and international lobbying - Dutch Stakeholders: NL Embassies in programme countries, MoFA, MoJ&S, to formalise the network for sustainable cooperation to end SEC and impunity of offenders. The Dutch Public - Media & Journalists: Investigative and reporting outlets in the Programme countries. Media and journalists in the Netherlands.