 Prostitution of children is illegal under international law , and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child , Article 34 , states , " the State shall protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse , including prostitution and involvement in pornography . " The convention was first held in 1989 and has been ratified by 193 countries . In 1990 , the United Nations appointed a Special Rapporteur on the sale of children , child prostitution , and child pornography . While the legality of adult prostitution varies between different parts of the world , the prostitution of minors is illegal in most countries , and all countries have some form of restrictions against it . 
