People at the frontline of the war against child prostitution and pornography describe it as "every country's dirtiest and darkest secret."
But earlier this week, more than 3,300 people from over 100 countries gathered in Yokohama in an attempt to throw light on the issue.
During the four-day conference, which ended Thursday, officials and young delegates from government and nongovermental organizations, along with survivors of the international sex trade, sought practical solutions to this urgent problem.