A/HRC/55/55 exists on the sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the industry. A survey undertaken by the International Labour Organization (ILO) provided a glimpse into the industry. The results indicated that 53.7 per cent of respondents had experienced sexual harassment during rehearsals and 46.3 per cent of respondents had experienced incidents during auditions or interviews.12 A statistically rigorous study commissioned in 2017 by the Freedom Fund in the context of a single urban area of one country indicated that the proportion of minors working in the adult entertainment sector as a whole was 17 per cent, with over 70 per cent of those minors having experienced some form of violence. Over 60 per cent were working in sexually exploitative environments. 13 The types of sexual exploitation to which young people reported being exposed ranged from flirting and groping to being made to perform sensual massages and engage in sexual intercourse.14 The results of another study showed that as many as 97 per cent of adolescents engaged in entertainment sectors were sexually exploited by customers and employers15 and that two thirds of workers in those sectors were below the age of 18 years.16 14. Predatory sexual behaviour has been accepted as the norm in the entertainment industry because directors, producers, managers and agents have faced no repercussions for unlawfully wielding power and authority over young and vulnerable aspiring entertainers.17 Studies have shown that a significant number of instances of sexual abuse and exploitation in that field remained unreported, primarily due to the prevailing power dynamics and a fear of retaliation and the loss of career opportunities. 18 Such factors often result in an environment in which individuals in positions of authority can exploit vulnerable child actors and performers. 15. The global nature of the industry means that such issues are not confined to one geographical region but, rather, are prevalent in countries worldwide. Nevertheless, movements such as Me Too19 have enabled some victims to step forward courageously to expose perpetrators, resulting in a heightened awareness in recent times of sexual exploitation and abuse in the entertainment industry. The testimonies of the brave victims who have come forward have consistently pointed to the urgent need for improved protections for children and young people within the entertainment sector and have raised vital questions regarding the inadequacy of existing preventive and protective measures, systems for accountability and access to justice. 1. Absence of norms and the normalization of abuse 16. In the thematic study on the sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the entertainment industry, the lack of agreement on the scope of inviolable norms or principles and the disregard of the best interests of the child in the entertainment industry are highlighted as issues of concern. Blurred lines, with regard to social norms, between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour 20 and exposure to content and lifestyles based on exaggerated consumption and forms of self-fulfilment that objectify or instrumentalize human beings or trivialize relationships can be disruptive and harmful.21 Patterns of domination, inequalities within communities and the normalization of abuse and violence are the latent realities that place children and adolescents at a constant risk of sexual exploitation anywhere that they 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 4 ILO, “Policy brief on sexual harassment”, pp. 11 and 12. Meredith Dank and Kyle Vincent, “Prevalence of minors in Kathmandu’s adult entertainment sector” (The Freedom Fund, 2019). Ibid. Foundation ECPAT International, “Preparatory study for situational analysis of commercial sexual exploitation of children in Nepal: a preliminary report”, 2015. John Frederick, Muna Basnyat and Joseph L. Aguettant, Trafficking and Exploitation in the Entertainment and Sex Industries in Nepal: A Handbook for Decision Makers (Kathmandu, Nepal, Terre des hommes Foundation, 2010). See submissions from the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and Caritas India. See ILO, “Policy brief on sexual harassment”. Anna E. Jaffe, Ian Cero and David DiLillo, “The #MeToo movement and perceptions of sexual assault: college students’ recognition of sexual assault experiences over time,” Psychology of Violence, vol. 11, No. 2 (March 2021), pp. 209–218. See submission from the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria. See submission from El Salvador. GE.23-25843