Sexual exploitation of children is widespread in the post-communist era, with prostitution legal at age 14 and sometimes even glorified as an occupation, according to a report to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. “Given the social acceptance of this way of life, many children, mainly girls, see prostitution as a prestigious career,” said special investigator Ofelia Calcetas-Santos of the Phiippines in the report.

Calcetas-Santos said poverty, ignorance and alcoholic parents also were helping push youngsters into prostitution, making it “a widely developed business”.

A study by St Petersburg State University of more than 100 child prostitutes as young as nine concluded that most did it to get money for food, earning 350 roubles a day (pound;8.50 ) Read the full story at www.tes.co.uk.