Sections in this review present a national review of children involved in prostitution, local protocols, procedures and systems, and impact.

This document is addressed to those who work in the health and education services, the police, social services, the probation services, and others that may work with children about whom there are concerns that they are involved in prostitution. It sets out an inter-agency appraoch, based on local protocols developed within the framework of 'Working Together to Safeguard Children (Department of Health et al 1999; National Assembly for Wales 2000), to address this type of abuse. There is no specific coverage of drug use.

This report covers the need for a national plan, co-ordination and co-operation, prevention, protection, recovery and re-integration, children's and young people's participation and recommendations for the way forward.

There has been a proliferation in the use of drugs in Uganda; the youth have become more involved in drugs partly because of the circumstances they are in and also due to factors beyond their control including poverty and unemployment. Drug use has also been compounded by youth engagement in prostitution. The consequence of the two has had devastating effect on the youth leading to further vulnerability. The paper shows that in order to help young people, a multiple strategy needs to be adopted to prevent and also withdrawal children from these vices.

This briefing focuses on recent government sponsored research on drug prevention among young people who have been sexually abused or who are working as sex workers, and considers how this relates to current government policy and guidance.