In this reporting period, MAIS administered care to 68 children in high risk situations (children who are out of school, or in school but doing poorly, victims of sexual abuse or those who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation); and dealt with 39 cases of sexual violence against children and 6 cases of sexual exploitation of children of a commercial nature. MAIS also facilitated 4 workshops for adolescents at high risk, children sexually exploited in a commercial context, and young single mothers.

MAIS participated in three seminars in 2001. One was a situational analysis on commercial sexual exploitation of children with UNICEF; the other, done with ILO-IPEC, fed into a proposed work plan to combat the worst forms of child labour (including the prostitution of children). Following two meetings and a workshop of programme design, the work of MAIS on family based prevention of CSEC was approved by ILO-IPEC in 2002. Finally, MAIS also collaborated with a research centre, El Centro de Investigaci鏮 para la Acci鏮 Femenina (CIPAF), on a study on the trafficking in women for sexual purposes.

In this reporting period, MAIS participated in several meetings to strengthen the network of child-centred NGOs with the goal to better coordinate actions. In March, 2002, MAIS was selected as member of the coordination body of the network.

Other activities included counselling and aid to young people in juvenile court; publication of a quarterly newsletter; collaboration with the government and UNICEF in the design and development of a National Plan, "Por una Vida con Derechos"; and participation in an Inter-institutional Commission against child abuse and sexual exploitation of children.

Planned Activities: In addition to the ongoing work at the new training centre for at-risk youth, in the coming months MAIS will continue and strengthen its work with the child-centred NGO network, with the juvenile courts, as well as the Inter-institutional Commission. Specific activities with the Commission will include a youth participation programme in public schools where the incidence of sexual exploitation is found to be high.

MAIS will begin an ILO IPEC sponsored prevention programme, working with families in 4 neighbourhoods where children are found to be most at risk to becoming involved in commercial sexual exploitation.

In cooperation with the Minister of Tourism, MAIS plans to develop a prevention programme to combat child sex tourism in areas of touristic interest, hotels, and airports. This programme will ideally involve hotel owners and staff, tour operators and guides, and training centres for tour guides.