>I'm honestly sorry to tell you this: the experiment didn't work. Turns out when we took away the reason for private interests to be interested in these children, the lives of the children didn't improve

I'm not sure where you had this experience. In the US and Europe, when child labor (and children prostitutes) was abolished, circa late 19th - early 20th century, the lives of children improved greatly.

In countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America where it's still either allowed or authorities turn a blind eye, not so much.

Moreover, the very idea of "let the kids be raped for money, lest they starve to death, it's the least we can do" is sick.

It's not by any means the "least" we can do.