“We are nearing the goal of universal ratification, strengthening children’s protection from violence and bringing to an end the impunity for incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse,” the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, said in a statement. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, added: “Ratification, followed by a proper implementation and rigorous enforcement, can make a real difference for children caught in conflict and vulnerable to exploitation.”

The campaign for universal ratification of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child – a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations, providing protection and support for the rights of children – was launched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in May 2010. It is a UN system-wide effort, promoted by the Ms. Santos Pais, Ms. Coomaraswamy, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The Protocol on the Sale Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography provides guidance for States in their efforts to prohibit and prevent sexual violence and exploitation of children and the prosecution of perpetrators. It also protects children from sale or trafficking for purposes such as forced labour, illegal adoption or organ donation.

The Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict prohibits the use of children in hostilities and urges all States to set their minimum age of conscription at I8 years. It also prohibits the recruitment by armed groups of children under the age of 18.

Ms. Santos Pais and Ms. Coomaraswamy emphasized that although steady progress has been made, much more remains to be done, noting that 46 Member States have not ratified the protocol on child soldiers.

“I urge conflict-affected countries to ratify this treaty as a matter of urgency and those in peace and with no standing armies to follow suit in a symbolic gesture to end the outrageous practice of child recruitment,” said Ms. Coomaraswamy.

Ms. Santos Pais stressed that ratification is a crucial step towards implementation. “In our struggle to eliminate sexual exploitation of children there can be no room for complacency,” she said.

Meanwhile, the list of sex workers who are carriers of HIV is increasing creating great concerns. Another 5 sex workers were confirmed to be HIV carriers on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 17, according to ToVima.

The minister stated that seeking unprotected sex at illegal brothels should be considered as a felony. The sex workers detained so far face charges of deliberately  causing sriousbodily harm, also a felony. Health authorities said yesterday that most of these women were addicted to drugs and working as prostitutes to raise the money for their fixes, according to Kathimerini.

The Minister of Health said inspections will continue. According to data from the telephone line KEELPNO, half of the people aged 35-45 years, say they are married or are in serious stable relationship and attribute their intercourse with prostitutes without using condoms to alcohol or ignorance about transmission of HIV.

According to research by the Organization Against Drugs (OKANA), addict prostitutes receive between five and 10 clients a day.

Meanwhile a public outcry against the decision to make public the photographs of 12 sex workers alleged to have tested positive for HIV continued to fuel fierce debate on social networking sites. Both Loverdos and Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis defended the decision, noting that public health overrides privacy concerns.

The increase in HIV medical examinations intesified after  Greek Police  on Sunday took the unprecedented decision to announce the name and photograph of a 22-year-old woman who allegedly worked as a prostitute and was HIV positive.

According to reports, the woman, a Russian national, was arrested in an illegal brothel in the centre of the city. It is significant that the first 1600 calls that six in ten had unprotected sex with this woman.

Health Minister considers, however, said it was a positive development that the problem experienced by Greece is now recognized. On 20 June  representatives of ten countries and c international organizations such as the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) will visit Athens in order to  find a common solution, according to Ta Nea.

In a statement today to SKAI radio  by a doctor of KEELPNO, Evangelos Liapis,  that the center has intensified AIDS tests for prostitutes in central Athens, Omonia, adding that the majority of sex workers do not have access to health care as they are working illegally.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that in recent years have seen an increased incidence of HIV / AIDS.

The increase in medical examinations intesified after  Greek Police (EL.AS) on Sunday took the unprecedented decision to announce the name and photograph of a 22-year-old woman who allegedly worked as a prostitute and was HIV positive.

According to reports, the woman, a Russian national, was arrested in an illegal brothel in the centre of the city.

A press release by police said that the publication of her name and photograph aims to protect public health, combat instances of HIV-infected individuals.

According to Ms. Kremastinou,  KEELPNO has received over 1,000 calls, mostly from young men.

Minister Loverdos, noted that “Unfortunately my predictions were confirmed. I had warned that AIDS is dramatically increasing in our country and a part of the problem is located in illegal immigration and illegal prostitution,” Kathimerini reported.

The Minister pointed out that KEELPNO will continue its HIV examnations,“There will be no brothel unchecked during the next days,” he announced.