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The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Matthew Coon Come, welcomes the release of a report on the commercial sexual exploitation of First Nations and Aboriginal children. It highlights ever more strongly the conditions that these children live in and the despair that faces many of them.

"Children and youth should never have to be subjected to the destructive effects of commercial sexual exploitation. The report shows that our children and youth are not immune to this devastating human tragedy. It also clearly demonstrates how policies of exclusion and of discrimination have had a greater impact on our children and youth, making them even more susceptible to this form of despicable exploitation", stated National Chief Matthew Coon Come.

Government policies and institutionalized racism and discrimination have contributed to the erosion of the social and cultural fabric of our nations and their communities. Our leaders have been denied the tools to respond to communities’ crisis and must always depend on outside assistance, which is often not available. We see the results in the self-destructive behaviour of our young people, be it in Sheshatshiu, in Pikangikum or in other communities.

"Governments must not be allowed to sit idly by while our children are exploited or die in such fashion. Our requests for joint efforts to resolve these issues must be answered. I want to establish with other governments a permanent political forum where solutions to these tragedies can be determined quickly before more lives, especially young lives, are wasted without reason or justification", concluded National Chief Coon Come.

For additional information, contact Jean LaRose, phone: 613-241-6789 (ext.251), cell: (613) 795-9664 or or send e-mail to: jlarose@afn.ca