Un Expert Slams India, Cambodia, Thailand Over Sex Tourism with Child Prostitutes

[Thaising]

GENEVA : India, Cambodia and Thailand are not doing enough to protect children against the risks associated with sex tourism for fear of damaging their economies, a UN human rights expert charged on Friday.

Juan Miguel Petit, the UN special rapporteur on the rights of children, said authorities in these countries are often not willing to tackle the issue of children's sexual exploitation for tourists' benefit.

"Sometimes there are big pressures on governments, explicitly or implicitly, when there are enormous touristic activities going on, making millions of dollars," he told journalists.

"Some interests see the limitation on the sexual market as a limitation for their earning of money," he added.

He denounced this "insane tourism that puts at risk the lives of hundreds and hundreds of children," saying it was against the public interest in such countries.

In general, Asia "continues to be a very difficult, alarming place" as far as human trafficking is concerned, Petit said.

Police often appear unconcerned about the scale and gravity of the problem, he charged.

"They accept this kind of crime in a passive way, as if their job was only to chase bank robbers," he said.

Many convicted Western sex offenders are drawn to Southeast Asia for its perceived laxness in terms of child sex.

British former pop star Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed for three years in Vietnam in 2005 for molesting girls aged 11 and 12.

He fled Britain for Southeast Asia, initially Cambodia, in 1999 after serving half of a four-month prison term for possession of child pornography.

AFP

[donna]

id say that sex tourism and pedophilia are two different topics.

neither of them are to be bragged about in my opinion.

[Briggsy]

Look at the culture difference.

Exasperation from the diplomat because his culture teaches him that protection of the vulnerable is the responsibility of the state.

Shrug of the shoulders from Asian countries as their culture teaches them that protection of the vulnerable is the responsibility of the family.

[Dakhar]

I am not sure if we can talk about this here.... but has any one ever seen child prostitution? I have to be honest, I am not really a conasuir (sp) of prostitution but from what little I have seen, I have never seen children prostitutes.

I see or hear about it on the news, but because I have not seen it, I don't think it is a rampant problem.

Now prositution.... that we have all seen.

[Explorer]

He is from the south american country (Uruguay), perhaps someone should remind him about the "street kids" of Brazil and other south american country with similar problems before touching on Asia issues.

Explorer

[jonniebkk]

Blah blah blah blah blah...why doesn't the tosser get a real job

[kmart]

He is from the south american country (Uruguay), perhaps someone should remind him about the "street kids" of Brazil and other south american country with similar problems before touching on Asia issues.

Explorer

... And speaking from a country grown rich from secret bank accounts and Nazi gold.

I'm sure that child prostitution is not a problem in S. America. Not after they have been rounded up and disappeared by the death squads.

[gennisis]

GENEVA : India, Cambodia and Thailand are not doing enough to protect children against the risks associated with sex tourism for fear of damaging their economies, a UN human rights expert charged on Friday.

Juan Miguel Petit, the UN special rapporteur on the rights of children, said authorities in these countries are often not willing to tackle the issue of children's sexual exploitation for tourists' benefit.

"Sometimes there are big pressures on governments, explicitly or implicitly, when there are enormous touristic activities going on, making millions of dollars," he told journalists.

"Some interests see the limitation on the sexual market as a limitation for their earning of money," he added.

He denounced this "insane tourism that puts at risk the lives of hundreds and hundreds of children," saying it was against the public interest in such countries.

In general, Asia "continues to be a very difficult, alarming place" as far as human trafficking is concerned, Petit said.

Police often appear unconcerned about the scale and gravity of the problem, he charged.

"They accept this kind of crime in a passive way, as if their job was only to chase bank robbers," he said.

Many convicted Western sex offenders are drawn to Southeast Asia for its perceived laxness in terms of child sex.

British former pop star Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed for three years in Vietnam in 2005 for molesting girls aged 11 and 12.

He fled Britain for Southeast Asia, initially Cambodia, in 1999 after serving half of a four-month prison term for possession of child pornography.

AFP

Not that for one moment would I condone 'child sex' but I do wonder what qualifications one needs to become an 'expert' in sexual matters.

Maybe the tutorials would be interesting !

[Maigo6]

The man has a point.

Take Pattaya for instance, it's hardly the stunning Beaches, crystal clear waters, relaxed pace, low crime, and low traffic volume that attracts people is it ? Take out the sex attraction, and Pattaya would be a Ghost town as far as International Tourism is concerned.

Just because he comes from a South American country does not make his statement wrong, he's right! Exploiters are drawn to SE Asian countries and until the Governments of these countries take solid action, it will continue.

[Maigo6]

Blah blah blah blah blah...why doesn't the tosser get a real job

You think he'd want to swap his job with yours ?

[Neeranam]

The man has a point.

Take Pattaya for instance, it's hardly the stunning Beaches, crystal clear waters, relaxed pace, low crime, and low traffic volume that attracts people is it ? Take out the sex attraction, and Pattaya would be a Ghost town as far as International Tourism is concerned.

Just because he comes from a South American country does not make his statement wrong, he's right! Exploiters are drawn to SE Asian countries and until the Governments of these countries take solid action, it will continue.

Of course he has a point - the sexual addicts will however try to slag him off as he is threatening their fix - addictionl is a terrible thing.

[gunnyd]

I don't know about the rest of y'all, but ever since I was a young lad and I heard about Thailand and Bangkok, it was about the sex industry. It is sad but LOS has been synonymous with prostitution long before this guy showed up to make his report.

His report was about as hard to make as answering the question "Who's buried in Grant's tomb?". If it wasn't for the sex industry in LOS would they have such a large tourist industry? I don't think that you would see a bunch a farang banging down the doors to visit the various Buddhist temples. If that was all there was to do.

GunnyD

[Explorer]

Yo People!

His comment was this -

"Juan Miguel Petit, the UN special rapporteur on the rights of children, said authorities in these countries are often not willing to tackle the issue of children's sexual exploitation for tourists' benefit."

Aren't we kinda off topic here?

Explorer

[Kerryd]

What this "report" fails to mention (again) is that the majority of the "child sex" problem is domestic !

Once in a while it makes the news when a tourist gets caught, but when an establishment that is locally (domestically) owned, managed and frequented gets busted, it hardly causes a ripple in the international press.

Remember too that this "story" is about child sex tourism, and not sex tourism in general (otherwise they would have to slam places like Amsterdam, Hamburg, Budapest and Rio along with various Asian destinations).

The topic title should be amended to reflect that the story is about Child Sex Tourism.

Children tend to be the most vulnerable members of our "society", and are often the most easily exploited, whether it be for sex (in places around the world) or as soldiers (in certain places around the world).

They need to be protected somehow, but, if one opens their eyes to reality, they will quickly realise that it isn't happening. Not in places where the state is (should be) responsible, and not in places where the family is (should be) responsible. There are tales of woe from all parts of the globe, and not all those tales come from "less developed" regions of the planet. Many come from (supposedly) more advanced and civilised countries (though not on the same scale).

It rarely gets mention, but even in places like Afghanistan, exploitation of children is a problem. Young girls are "sold off" to money lenders to settle family debts. Boys as young as 8-10 years old are doing a man's work in the fields and factories (or being indoctrinated as future soldiers).

The problem can not be pinned down to any specific region, or segment of society. To highlight and lay blame on some areas allows other areas to remain in the shadows, business as normal.

[gunnyd]

Not to mention if he really wanted to study child prostitution and child exploitation he should have started in Africa.

[Maigo6]

If it wasn't for the sex industry in LOS would they have such a large tourist industry? I don't think that you would see a bunch a farang banging down the doors to visit the various Buddhist temples. If that was all there was to do.

GunnyD

Correct.

[barky]

I find the molestation and abuse of children utterly abhorrent where ever it is.

But lets not lose sight of the fact that it is a matter of supply and demand.

In any country where this business exists, it is, in the main, owned and operated by the locals.

And in almost every case it is organised crime with the blessing of politicians, police and well healed businessmen who fund it and reap the profits.

If you were talking about prostitution in general though I agree with an earlier post in Thailand , for example, I have found little obvious evidence that child prostitution is significant.

A related idea with Thailand in mind I tripple dare anyone in power to close down the red light districts.

[Prakanong]

The man has a point.

Take Pattaya for instance, it's hardly the stunning Beaches, crystal clear waters, relaxed pace, low crime, and low traffic volume that attracts people is it ? Take out the sex attraction, and Pattaya would be a Ghost town as far as International Tourism is concerned.

Just because he comes from a South American country does not make his statement wrong, he's right! Exploiters are drawn to SE Asian countries and until the Governments of these countries take solid action, it will continue.

Exactly - by projecting the problem to his country as a rejoinder does not make it any less anywhere else.

I am not talking about children but no country whores their daughters like Thailand - even the PI does not come close

In some parts of Thailand iys seen as a virtue even for what thier daughters can bring home.

[Ulysses G.]

The domestic sex industry in all these developing countries is 100 times bigger and 100 times worse than prostitution for Westerners in every way. Why does the UN virtually ignore it all over the world?

These supposed anti-sex "experts" are hypocrites, liars and the worse kind of scum. It is great when these phonies gets caught like the Governor of New York did.

Edited March 15, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[007]

I am not sure if we can talk about this here.... but has any one ever seen child prostitution?

Sadly, it does exist in Thailand. In 1999 (or was it 2000?) a young Thai boy, aged 9 or 10 explicitly offered his (sex) services while I was hanging out on Patong beach. And in 2003 a 22-year old freelancer girl I knew in Pattaya tried to pimp three "17" year old girls to me and other Westerners. The girls may have been even younger than seventeen. Needless to say that I declined all such offers.

[Dupont]

Not to mention if he really wanted to study child prostitution and child exploitation he should have started in Africa.

Same with a lot of NGO's.

Too scared to go to Africa. Too many diseases, too much poverty and, most importantly, no whiteys to blame the sordid stinking, murderous mess on anymore!!! Its just so unfair isn't it. The PC west have worked their little bleeding hearts out for Africa, only to have blacks killing blacks en mass and arabs, muslims and blacks at war with each other. Just so unfair, no white men involved here.

Lovely to come to Thailand and be a do gooder isn't it.

OT, the heading for this topic is absolutely spot OFF, as it was about child prostitution, not the mostly consensual goings on in this place... mad as it is. Perhaps some peoples brains are too small to make the distinction, but thats their problems.

Maybe we should have more posts about the miserable hangwringing that goes on in most countries away from Thailand! The "death through boredom" that awaits all that don;t live here (Asia) , the rotting away in a lonely flat whilst governments take all your money for health care. The generation today will not have the inheritance we all had and will have poverty to add to their woes, along with miniscule pensions brought about because they havn't bred enough to maintain a population large enough to support them!!!

Heard there is a new carry on movie in the pipe line. Carry on handwringing I should think.

[gjones]

Just googled this Juan Miguel Petit, he seems to be slamming every non western counties in similar ways.

Maybe he should look closer to home but then again his traveling expenses might be much less.

Petit is that French for small

[spasticated]

<br />Not to mention if he really wanted to study child prostitution and child exploitation he should have started in Africa.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

And he could combine it with the equally brutal female circumscision and make a real holiday of it!

[misterman21]

Western countries are actively promoting homosexuality as the norm to young school children. Just this week the Dutch government anounced that they would legitamize sex in public parks. The UK government have been pushing for sometime to leagalize sex between men in public toilets (commnly known as cottageing). In Germany (hold your breath for this one) a government sponsered family trust has issued a brochure to millions of familys advising that fathers of young daughters should make themselves familiar with their infants genitaliar - even to the extent of stimulating their clitorus - unbelievable but true! Overt feminism promotes lesbianism as a normal lifestyle.

I can honestly say that in all my time spent in thailand i have never been aware of any big problem with child prostitution or phidaphilia - however it does seem to be a big problem in the Uk within familys and government childcare agencys - not to mention the priesthood!!

[sibeymai]

The only times I've seen underage (post-puberty) prostitution is when I'm being entertained by Thais. Doesn't seem to be a big problem in entertainment venues catering to farangs, though it must exist in some of those places.

[sibeymai]

Western countries are actively promoting homosexuality as the norm to young school children.

You can't be serious !!

[sbk]

Topic title amended to show that this man is discussing sex tourism using child prostitutes. Regardless of who he is targeting surely we can't condemn the man for asking these countries to do more to protect their children from prositution?

[misterman21]

Western countries are actively promoting homosexuality as the norm to young school children.

You can't be serious !!

Hard cold fact

[sbk]

Western countries are actively promoting homosexuality as the norm to young school children.

You can't be serious !!

Hard cold fact

And absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand, thanks.

[misterman21]

Topic title amended to show that this man is discussing sex tourism using child prostitutes. Regardless of who he is targeting surely we can't condemn the man for asking these countries to do more to protect their children from prositution?

It not so much condemnation for what he is asking - it is the hypocrosy!