The Stockholm Agenda for Action against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children was adopted by 122 governments at the First World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Stockholm, Sweden (1996) and reaffirmed by 159 governments at the Second World Congress in Yokohama, Japan (2001). To date 161 countries have adopted the Agenda.

The Agenda for Action is a global framework for combating CSEC, which requires governments, international agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other concerned organizations or individuals to direct technical and material resources towards the protection of children. It calls for action to improve cooperation and coordination, provide health and educational programmes, strengthen law enforcement and legislation, adopt non-punitive rehabilitation measures and encourage child and youth participation.

At the Yokohama Congress, five years on from the first congress, representatives from governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and members of civil society from around the world, gathered to review developments as a follow-up process to strengthening the commitment to protecting children from sexual exploitation. The Yokohama Global Commitment was the outcome of the review.

In 2008, the World Congress III resulted in commitment by governments around the world to the The Rio de Janeiro Declaration and Call for Action to Prevent and Stop Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, This call for action provides a blueprint for governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, human rights institutions, ombudspersons, the private sector, law enforcement and legal community, religious leaders, parliamentarians, researchers and academics, civil society and children and adolescents to prevent, prohibit and stop sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and to provide the necessary support to children who have fallen victim to abusers.