The original logo of ECPAT was designed in 1991. The image that was selected was a broken rosebud. It was an unusual choice, and yet appropriate for a number of reasons. Once the rose bud is severed from the stem and bruised it can no longer flower into full maturity but is inevitably doomed to fading and death. Some felt that the image by itself conveyed a sense of hopelessness. To balance this negative image, the logo was accompanied by the words “The small bud is easily broken -from the soil- new flowers are nurtured”. In this way the broken rose bud was a symbol of both sadness and hope.

Proposals for a new logo were received from professional graphic artists in six countries. In 1996, the executive chose a design from the Philippines. It is the image of a child waving a flower, which was thought to be an appropriate symbol of hope and a strong expression of the organisation’s ethos. The logo is distinctive, informal and easily identified. The executive believed that it would be universally recognised as a symbol for those who work to end CSEC everywhere.