Indifference in a community leads to aggravated abuse of children, while a lack of understanding keeps children from being rehabilitated and reintegrated into society, a Canadian survivor of child sexual exploitation said.
Cherry Kingsley, 31, a participant in the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, which ended in Yokohama on Thursday, called on every member of society in every country not only to be aware of the problem of child abuse but also to reach out to the victims.
"I think in a community, when we are being hurt, nobody does anything. They don't care as long as it doesn't happen to their child," she said in an interview.
Kingsley told a news conference that hotel staff did not challenge her when she rented a room at the age of 14.