Retailers have today been given 18 months to clean up their shelves and stop selling age inappropriate clothes. The warning comes on the eve of the publication of a report by Mothers' Union Chief Executive, Reg Bailey, condemning the sexualisation of children.
The report highlights the problem of age inappropriate clothing for children including padded bikinis and lace lingerie for young teens.
Nine major high street brands have already agreed to sign up to a new code of practice drawn up by the British Retail Consortium. Guidelines in the proposed code of practice say that ‘fabrics and cut should provide for modesty’ and ‘slogans and imagery must be age appropriate and without undesirable associations or connotations’.
‘Society has become increasingly full of sexualised imagery,’ Mr Bailey said.
‘This has created a wallpaper to children’s lives. Parents feel there is “no escape” and no “clear space” where children can be children.’
The report also calls for age guidelines restricting the times when sexy music videos by stars such as Rihanna be shown on TV.
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