A recent finding by the Church of Melanesia's Christian Care Centre revealed that logging companies has contributed to the rise in commercial sex.
Dr Tania Hebert from the Christian Care Centre, who compiled the report, says the lack of monitoring of logging companies means people in the camps are not accountable for their actions.Dr Hebert says people in the logging camps have easy access to sexually abuse and exploit children. Dr Hebert says the study documents very disturbing and illegal practices by some logging companies.
The study also found that the abuse and exploitation of children is a serious problem which requires the urgent attention and action of leaders at the national, provincial and community levels.
A report is being compiled from the study and is due to be launched next week by Lady Alice Waena, wife of the Governor General. She says contributing factors include issues of marriage, poverty, changes to custom and a lack of awareness about child abuse and exploitation.
Lady Waena says that this calls for a concerted effort to stop it, which should be led by government through the Ministry for Women, Youth and Children.