Surge in online sex trade of children challenges anti-slavery campaigners

epa05641866 A undated graphic illustration issued 21 November 2016 and created by the Bergen police in Norway of the 5500 usernames related to conversations and photo sharing in computer software on the 'dark internet'. Picture sharing and chats are related to child abuse and sexual depictions of children. Most of the usernames are by Norwegian users, and the Norwegian police are working on identifying them. In total, police have filed criminal charges against 51 persons, all male, as part of an operation called 'Operation Dark Room'. EPA/BERGEN POLICE / HANDOUT NORWAY OUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

LONDON: Technology has fuelled a surge in the buying and selling of children online for sexual abuse with advertising a child on the Internet as "easy as booking an airfare", campaigners told an anti-slavery conference in London. 

Lawyer Carol Robles-Roman, who was deputy mayor for legal affairs to former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said legal reform was urgently needed to protect children from online sexual exploitation.