UN expert on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children to visit Australia

GENEVA (26 October 2023) – The UN Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, Mama Fatima Singhateh, will visit Australia from 30 October to 10 November 2023.

During her visit, Singhateh will examine several areas and risks in the protection of children against the sale, sexual exploitation and abuse, including child-trafficking for sexual exploitation or commercial purposes, online child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and abuse of children in out-of-home care and other settings.

She will assess the situation and progress made in combating and preventing the sale and sexual exploitation of children according to international human rights norms and standards.

Singhateh is visiting Australia at the invitation of the Government. She will hold discussions in Canberra, Sydney, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne with representatives of the executive, legislature and judiciary, commissioners, local authorities, civil society organisations, children and youth care centres. She will also hold discussions with children during her visit.

The Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference at the end of her visit, on 10 November 2023 at 12 noon local time at the United Nations Association of Australia, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, to share her preliminary observations. Access will be strictly limited to journalists.

She will present a comprehensive report of her country visit to the Human Rights Council in March 2025.

Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh (The Gambia) was appointed as the UN Special Rapporteur on sale and sexual exploitation of children by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2020. She is a trained lawyer with over 20 years of experience. Ms Singhateh has held a number of high-level positions in public service in the Gambia. She holds a master’s degree in International Business Law from the University of Hull and has undergone numerous trainings in child rights programming, arbitration and mediation, and legislative drafting. She has drafted laws, organized and conducted numerous training sessions, delivered presentations at both national and international fora and written articles and reports on issues relating to the promotion and protection of the rights of the child.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, country page – Australia