Child sex tourism

Child sex tourism (CST) is tourism for the purpose of engaging in the prostitution of children, that is commercially facilitated child sexual abuse.[1] Child sex tourism results in both mental and physical consequences for the exploited children, that may include "disease (including HIV/AIDS), drug addiction, pregnancy, malnutrition, social ostracism, and possibly death", according to the State Department of the United States.[1] Child sex tourism, part of the multibillion-dollar global sex tourism industry, is a form of child prostitution within the wider issue of commercial sexual exploitation of children. Child sex tourism victimizes approximately 2 million children around the world.[1][2][3][4] The children who perform as prostitutes in the child sex tourism trade often have been lured or abducted into sexual slavery.[5][6][7]

Users of children for commercial and sexual purposes can be categorized by motive. Contrary to popular belief, pedophiles are not the majority of users. There are preferential abusers, that is those who may prefer children because they perceive the risk of venereal diseases to be lower. There are also situational users, those who do not actively seek out children but for whom the actual act is opportunistic; there may be a lack of concern to check the age of a prostitute before engaging in sexual activity. The majority of the exploited children are under 12 years old.[4]

Pedophiles use the Internet to plan their trips by seeking out and trading information about opportunities for child sex tourism and where the most vulnerable children can be found, generally in areas of low income.[4] A few governments have enacted laws to allow prosecution of its citizens for child sexual abuse committed outside of their home country. However, while laws against child sex tourism may deter situational offenders who may act impulsively, pedophiles who travel specifically for the purpose of exploiting children are not easily deterred.[4]

Background

Child sex tourism has been closely linked to poverty, armed conflicts, rapid industrialization, and exploding population growth.[8] In Latin America and Southeast Asia, for instance, street children often turn to prostitution as a last resort. Additionally, vulnerable children are easy targets for exploitation by traffickers.[8]

Child sex tourism has also been complicated by varying ages of consent laws where, for example, the age of consent is 13 in Japan while it is 21 in Bahrain. See Ages of consent in Asia

Thailand, Cambodia, India, Brazil and Mexico have been identified as leading hotspots of child sexual exploitation.[9]

In Thailand, the exact number of child-prostitutes is not known, but Thailand’s Health System Research Institute reports that children in prostitution make up 40% of prostitutes in Thailand.[10] In Cambodia, it has been estimated that about a third of all prostitutes are under 18.[11][12] In India, the federal police say that around 1.2 million children are believed to be involved in prostitution.[13] Up until recently Brazil has been considered to have the worst child sex trafficking record after Thailand.[14] As per Chris Rogers report on BBC World[15] "Now Brazil is overtaking Thailand as the world's most popular sex-tourist destination". DLN reports that "Brazil at the moment is on a high trend of child sex tourism and is all geared to take up the first spot beating out Thailand." [16]

Sex tourism targeting children creates huge monetary incentives for traffickers. Human trafficking impacts an estimated 1.2 million child victims.[17][18] The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) recently stated that 79% of all global trafficking is for sexual exploitation, which is one of the fastest growing criminal activities in the world.[18]

UNICEF notes that sexual activity is often seen as a private matter, making communities reluctant to act and intervene in cases of sexual exploitation.[18] These attitudes make children far more vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Most exploitation of children takes place as a result of their absorption into the adult sex trade where they are exploited by local people and sex tourists.[18] The Internet provides an efficient global networking tool for individuals to share information on destinations and procurement.[18]

In cases involving children, the U.S. has relatively strict domestic laws that hold accountable any American citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. who travels abroad for the purpose of engaging in illicit conduct with a minor.[19] However, child pornography, sex tourism and human trafficking remain fast-growing industries.[19] Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J. recently introduced H.R. 1623, the international Megan's Law. Similar to the domestic Megan's Law (named after Megan Kanka of New Jersey), which provides for community notification when a sex offender is living in the area, H.R. 1623 would alert officials abroad when U.S. sex offenders intend to travel, and likewise encourage other countries to keep sex offender lists and to notify the U.S. when a known sex offender may be coming to the United States for sex tourism.[19] While there are serious problems with the sex offender registries in the United States, human rights organizations such as ECPAT and UNICEF believe this would be a step in the right direction.[19]

One of the factors pushing Brazil to the top of this list of destination countries is the extensive use of the Sport Fishing industry in the Brazilian Amazon as a front. The 2008 U.S. State Department Report[20] states "At midyear Federal Police in Manaus began investigating allegations that a foreign-owned travel company arranged fishing expeditions to the Amazon region that were in reality sex tours for U.S. and European pedophiles. At year's end the investigation was continuing in coordination with foreign law enforcement officials." Another US State Department report states (page 85) "In a newer trend, some arranged fishing expeditions to the Amazon were organized for the purpose of child sex tourism for European and American exploiters."[21] Recent Reports on Fox Atlanta and ABC World News Tonight have helped shine the light on this.[22][23][24][25][26] ECPAT-USA has recently posted a Brazilian National News story with English subtitles.[27]

Webcam child sex tourism

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations estimate, there are 750,000 predators online at any given time in 40,000 public chat rooms. Offers from 20,000 internet users to pay for webcam sex performances were found in a 10-week investigation conducted from a warehouse in Amsterdam, in the Terre des hommes Dutch action against WCST, using "Sweetie", a 3D computer model. Out of 21,000 perpetrators, 1,000 were identified from Australia, Canada, Germany, Ghana, India, Italy, Mauritius, the Netherlands, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and United States. 110 of the alleged online abusers were based in the UK and another 254 were traced to computers in the US.[28] Together with Avaaz.org, Terre des Hommes Netherlands has created an online petition to pressure governments to adopt proactive investigation policies in order to protect children against webcam child sex tourism.

Global response

In recent years there has been an increase in the prosecution of child sex tourism offenses. At least 38 countries have extraterritorial laws that allow their citizens to be prosecuted specifically for child sexual abuse crimes committed whilst abroad, and another 31 nations have more general extraterritorial laws that could be used to prosecute their citizens for crimes committed during child sex tourism trips.[1] In response to CST, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the tourism industry, and governments have begun to address the issue. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) established a task force to combat CST. The WTO, ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) and Nordic tour operators created a global The Code of Conduct for the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism in Travel and Tourism in 1996. As of April 2013, over 1200 travel companies from 40 countries had signed the code.[29]

International law enforcement activities

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or “ICE”, participates in investigating and capturing child sex tourists. In 2003 ICE launched “Operation Predator”, leading to the arrest of over 11,000 child sexual abusers, including more than 1,100 outside the United States. While ICE agents refuse to comment on their means and methods of operation, media reports have suggested the use of undercover agents, internet sting operations, and sophisticated technologies. ICE agents in Bangkok did say however that they often receive information from local NGOs about foreigners in Thailand whom they suspect of engaging in child sexual abuse. Sometimes U.S. based law enforcement, such as local Sheriff Departments and Parole Officers, inform them of known sex offenders who are traveling to the region. In both cases, local ICE agents work with their Royal Thai Police counterparts to monitor the suspects’ movements while in Thailand.[30]

Policing of child sex tourism

Asia

In 2005, The Korea Times reported that an international symposium was held to talk about strategies for curbing the high numbers of Korean child sex tourists to southeast Asia. The symposium, "Conditions and Countermeasures to Overseas Child and Youth Sex Tourism by Korean Men" discussed issues concerning Korean male soliciting of child prostitutes across Asia, but Cambodia and The Philippines were especially worrisome. "[Panelists] said male Korean tourists are believed to abuse the unfortunate situation of poor Cambodian children," who are coerced into selling sexual favors in order to help their families.[35] As for the Philippines, the report noted, "An increasing number of Koreans bought sex in the Philippines, sometimes abusing prostitutes. The Philippine government has urged the Korean government to take firm action against soliciting prostitutes, in particular buying sex from children."[35]
The Trafficking in Persons Report of 2010 reports that the men of South Korea create demand for child sex tourism in their surrounding countries, including southeast Asia, the South Pacific, and Mongolia.[34] Technology such as the internet has helped increase accessibility of child sex tourism in the Republic of Korea. Some South Korean men arrange for children from the Philippines, Thailand, and China as sources of sex.[34]
A Korean Institute of Criminology study published in January 2013 shows that South Korean men are the primary market for child sex tourism in Southeast Asia. "Among foreigners visiting Southeast Asia, South Koreans are the majority group driving demand for child prostitution across the region."[36] The article goes on to say, "A 2008 report from the U.S. Department of State, 'Trafficking in Persons Report,' described South Korea as a significant source of demand for child sex tourism in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands." Yun Hee-jun, head of a Seoul-based group campaigning against sex trafficking, claims, “If you visit any brothel in Vietnam or Cambodia, you can see fliers written in Korean.”[36]

North America

The Government of El Salvador does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so. During the reporting period, the government sustained anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts and continued to provide services to children who were trafficked for sexual exploitation. The Salvadoran government sustained anti-trafficking prevention efforts during the reporting period. The government forged or continued partnerships with NGOs, international organizations, and foreign governments on anti-trafficking initiatives. In May 2009, the government collaborated with an NGO to launch a campaign aimed specifically at increasing awareness of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, reaching approximately 4,500 children and adults. The government included anti-trafficking information in the training it gives to military forces prior to their deployment for international peacekeeping missions.[38]

South America

Penalties for child sex tourists

A growing number of countries have specific legislation that prosecutes their citizens in their homeland should they engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country with children. (The following list is not exclusive)

Australia

Australia was one of the first countries to introduce laws that provide for jail terms for its citizens and residents who engage in sexual activity with children in foreign countries. The laws are contained in the Crimes (Child Sex Tourism) Amendment Act 1994 that came into force on 5 July 1994.[40] The law also makes it an offence to encourage, benefit or profit from any activity that promotes sexual activity with children.

The maximum penalty is 20 years imprisonment (25 years imprisonment if the child is under the age of 12 and/or mentally handicapped) and/or a fine of up to $500,000 for an individual, and a fine of up to $5 million for companies or corporations.

Canada

Canada has included in its Criminal Code provisions that allow for the arrest and prosecution of Canadians in Canada for offences committed in foreign countries related to child sex tourism, such as child prostitution, as well as for child sexual exploitation offences, such as indecent acts, child pornography and incest (Bills C-27 and C-15A that came into force on May 26, 1997, and July 23, 2002, respectively).[41] Convictions carry a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.

Hong Kong

The Prevention of Child Pornography Ordinance (Cap. 579) of December 2003 introduced offences in regard to child sex tourism, giving extraterritorial effect to 24 sexual offences listed in a new Schedule 2 to the Crime Ordinance (Cap. 200). This makes illegal an act committed against a child outside Hong Kong if the defendant or the child has connections with Hong Kong. It is also an offence to make any arrangement relating to the commission of such acts against children and to advertise any such arrangement.[42]

South Korea

The South Korean government has yet to take significant punitive actions against South Korean men who solicit child prostitutes in other countries, though the problem of South Korean male child sex tourism as a problem is widely known outside of South Korea.[36]

United Kingdom

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 enables British citizens and residents who commit sexual offences against children overseas to be prosecuted in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.[43][44] Similar provisions are in force in Scotland under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995.[45] Some of the offences carry penalties of up to life imprisonment and anyone found guilty will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register. The UK police and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and Interpol are actively involved in monitoring child sex tourists and do prosecute. There are in 2013 two British citizens in jail following trials based on this legislation, Barry McCloud and David Graham.[46]

United States

Under the PROTECT Act of April 2003, it is a federal crime, prosecutable in the United States, for a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, to engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country with a person under the age of 18, whether or not the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident alien intended to engage in such illicit sexual conduct prior to going abroad. For purposes of the PROTECT Act, illicit sexual conduct includes any commercial sex act in a foreign country with a person under the age of 18. The law defines a commercial sex act as any sex act, on account of which anything of value is given to or received by a person under the age of 18.[47] Before congressional passage of the Protect Act of 2003, prosecutors had to prove that sex tourists went abroad with the intent of molesting children—something almost impossible to demonstrate. The Protect Act shifted the burden, making predators liable for the act itself. Penalties were doubled from 15 years in prison to 30.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "The Facts About Child Sex Tourism". Fact Sheet. US Dept of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. February 29, 2008.
  2. ↑ Klain, Prostitution of Children and Child-Sex Tourism: An Analysis of Domestic and International Responses 1999, ABA Center on Children and the Law, page 33 cited in Susan Song. "Global Child Sex Tourism: Children as Tourist Attractions" (PDF). Youth Advocate Program International Resource Paper. Youth Advocate Program International.
  3. ↑ Michael B. Farrell (April 22, 2004). "Global campaign to police child sex tourism". Christian Science Monitor.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Brittainy Bacon (July 27, 2007). "Stolen Innocence: Inside the Shady World of Child Sex Tourism". ABC News.
  5. ↑ R. BARRI FLOWERS (2001). "The Sex Trade Industry's Worldwide Exploitation of Children". The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 575 (1): 147–157. doi:10.1177/000271620157500109.
  6. 1 2 Michael Gerson (August 24, 2007). "No More Pedophile Tourists". The Washington Post. p. A15.
  7. ↑ Clift, Stephen; Simon Carter (2000). Tourism and Sex. Cengage Learning EMEA. pp. 75–78, 85. ISBN 1-85567-636-2.
  8. 1 2 Eirienne, Arielle K. (2009). "Child Sex Tourism: 'Us' and 'Them' in a Globalized World". Student Pulse.
  9. ↑ 16,000 Victims of Child Sexual Exploitation - IPS ipsnews.net
  10. ↑ http://www.unicri.it/wwd/trafficking/minors/docs/dr_thailand.pdf
  11. ↑ http://mswallow.typepad.com/the_swallows_nest/2008/02/good-news-bad-n.html
  12. ↑ Archived February 9, 2005, at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "Official: More than 1M child prostitutes in India". CNN. May 11, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
  14. ↑ http://www.libertadlatina.org/LA_Brazils_Child_Prostitution_Crisis.htm
  15. ↑ "Brazil's sex tourism boom". BBC News. July 30, 2010.
  16. ↑ http://www.dailylatestnews.com/2010/09/27/world-tourism-day-darker-sides-tourism-029617#ixzz16M6NGoug
  17. ↑ "Child protection from violence, exploitation and abuse". UNICEF. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2011. Some estimates have as many as 1.2 million children being trafficked every year.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Deena Guzder. "UNICEF: Protecting Children from Commercial Sexual Exploitation". Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Deena Guzder. "Local Thai NGOs Discuss Efforts to End Commercial Sexual Exploitation". Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
  20. ↑ http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/wha/119150.htm
  21. ↑ http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/123361.pdf
  22. ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/wnt/video/pleasure-trips-underage-sex-tourism-10293599&tab=9482930&section=1206853&playlist=10293597
  23. ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/WN/sex-tourism/story?id=10288468
  24. ↑ http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_172713.asp
  25. ↑ http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/i-team%3A_brazil_sex_tourism_112309
  26. ↑ http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/i-team%3A-sex-tourism-pt.-2-011110
  27. ↑ Video on YouTube
  28. ↑ Britons among 1,000 snared in webcam child sex sting, The Guardian, 4 November 2013
  29. ↑ Code of Conduct (CC)
  30. ↑ Jon Fox Sex Laws in Thailand Part 3 Civil Society and Law Enforcement
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 US Department of State, "Trafficking in Persons Report", 14 June 2010
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ECPAT, “ECPAT World Database”
  33. ↑ World Vision, “The Child Sex Tourism Prevention Project”, 2010
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 US Department of State, “Trafficking in Persons Report”, 14 June 2010
  35. 1 2 http://www.stopdemand.org/afawcs0153418/CATID=1/ID=149/SID=321313276/Korea-More-Koreans-go-abroad-for-sex-tourism.html
  36. 1 2 3 https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2013/01/116_129743.html
  37. 1 2 3 UNICEF, , 2010
  38. ↑ "Facts on commercial sexual exploitation of children" (PDF). ILO. 2004.
  39. ↑ "Argentina | South America". www.fosigrid.org. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
  40. ↑ Helping to Fight Child Sex Crimes Abroad - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Travel Bulletin
  41. ↑ Child Sex Tourism: It's a Crime
  42. ↑ LC Paper No. CB(2)1311/08-09(06)
  43. ↑ Travelling Child Sex Offenders Foreign & Commonwealth Office
  44. ↑ Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 72
  45. ↑ Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 16B
  46. ↑ David Graham Jailed Under 'Sex Tourism' Law, Skynews, 20 May 2013
  47. ↑ Country Specific Information Criminal Penalties

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