YOKOHAMA-- A four-day international conference concluded here Thursday with the adoption of a statement reaffirming the need for the protection and promotion of the right of every child to be protected from all forms of sexual exploitation.

In the statement, titled the "Yokohama Global Commitment 2001," participants in the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of the Children stated their commitment to the early ratification of international instruments such as the ILO Convention No. 182, whose premise is the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor.

The statement also welcomes the fact that greater international attention has been paid toward this issue since the first congress in Stockholm five years ago, and pledges further efforts to eradicate the problem.

The gathering was attended by more than 3,050 people, including delegates from 136 governments and representatives of international bodies, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector.

During his speech at Thursday's closing session, former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said, "The commercial sexual exploitation of children is not a new problem. There are various forms of exploitation, even in the most affluent societies."

He added that he appreciates the ongoing efforts of congress participants to combat this abuse.

One key feature of the conference was its considerable number of young participants. Around 90 youthful representatives, some of whom had been subjected to commercial sexual exploitation, issued a final appeal at the end of the conference.

Eighteen children from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Bangladesh and Japan performed a mini-drama focusing on child prostitution. They spoke in their native languages and played the roles of prostitutes, prostitutes' parents, a pimp, a client, police officers, and members of NGOs.

During their appeal, the youths called for "relevant, long-term, comprehensive and accessible services" to provide "exiting points and healing" for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation.

Vera Ocampo, 20, representing the Philippine branch of an NGO called End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT), read out the children's statement at the Stockholm congress.

"I feel overwhelmed that young people have been given the chance (to make themselves heard)," she said. "They are speaking from the bottom of their hearts."

But experts say there are still many issues that need to be resolved, such as the need to stop treating children in the sex trade as criminals.

During a news conference after the conference, Vitit Muntabhorn, professor of law at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and General Rapporteur of the congress, said, "Although it was agreed in Stockholm that sexually exploited children should not be penalized, trafficked children are locked up as illegal immigrants and are wrongly classified as prostitutes."

He pointed out that, although they are the victims, these children are stigmatized both legally and socially.

Muireann O Briain of ECPAT International said, "The single most important message to come from this congress is that the demand side of commercial sexual exploitation has to be tackled in a serious way."

She said her organization will be identifying strategies to address the question of why some men want to have sex with young girls or boys.

"Some of the demand is driven from fear of HIV/AIDS, some by cultural beliefs and practices -- all unacceptable," she said. "We need leadership by men to challenge the male environment in which violence to young women and children is treated as a joke."

Kaori Maruya, parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, chaired most of the sessions during the four-day gathering. She said the meeting was significant as it had been held ahead of the U.N. General Assembly Special Session on Children, slated for May.

The U.N. special session was originally scheduled for September, but was postponed due to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. She said the government will report on the outcome of the Yokohama meeting at the general assembly.