Street boys are victims of sexual exploitation

They said misconception about child sex exploitation is a major obstacle to address the problem.

Many people view it as an issue of homosexuality and as such this phenomenon is largely unreported, under-reported or misreported, they added.

The two-day regional workshop titled 'Prostitution of boys' was organised jointly by INCIDIN Bangladesh and Thailand-based ECPAT International at Brac Centre Inn in the city on June 8 and 9.

ECPAT is a child rights organisation to help end child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes.

More than forty child rights workers from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Nepal took part in the workshop.

Tufail Muhammad of Pakistan Paediatrics Association, AKM Masud Ali of INCIDIN Bangladesh and Anil Raghuvanshi of ECPAT International presented three reports on their research studies at the workshop.

According to these studies, the practice of exploiting boys sexually is manifested in different ways in many countries and takes place in streets, markets, bus terminals, restaurants and religious places.

The studies also throw light on how stereotyped gender constructions have created myths about male roles and led to inadequate protection of boy children in relation to sexual exploitation.

They suggested preparing plans for immediate actions on prevention of prostitution of boys.