Aby The Liberal

Mag June 18th, 2007

The sexual exploitation of children in the poor developing countries by paedophiles from rich nations has become a cause of concern to the civilised world. Children as young as 5 years old from countries like India, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam etc. are preyed upon by sex tourists who take the advantage of lax laws, weak prosecution and easy availability of children as sex slaves. The children  torn by poverty, wars and desperation become victims of the heartless who take advantage of the fact that they are beyond the laws and jurisdiction of their home countries.

Dalyn, from Cambodia who was only 12 years old when she was forced into prostitution tells her tale of horror.

An article appeared on Reader’s Digest a few years ago about undercover reporters who visited a brothel in Cambodia. They found terrified children from 6 years old to 15 years old being given to sexual predators for cash by the brothel owners. Thousands of men - mostly from America flock in these countries, travelling halfway across the world to prey on these kids for sex. They might think it is nothing more than prostitution but by any legal definition or any sane human - it is rape. The crimes are committed not only by criminal sexual offenders; but also by people with respectable professions like Dr. Gregory Kapordelis from Georgia who drugged young boys in St. Petersburg (Russia) and a retired Army sergeant from Seattle who may have molested upto 50 children.

The situation is so serious that US laws had to be reformed to punish American sex offenders in other countries. But in reality, because of the extra-judicial nature of such crimes and the secrecy in which the offender carry their crimes overseas, it has become very difficult to persecute them for the offences. Human rights groups in America have estimated 25% of all sex tourists abroad come from USA, the reality could be even more judging by the trends. The paedophiles are helped by dubious travel agencies and internet sites to solicit a trip abroad to countries like Cambodia, etc. for such activities. It is difficult for American authorities to investigate these crimes because the power of jurisdiction issues and the suspicion other countries have against US law enforcement authorities, thanks to the activities of Americans around the world.

Apart from America - France, Britain, Germany, Switzerland and Japan are countries from where child predators go on sex tourism to South and South-East Asian countries. In case of these countries the accused can be tried by national laws where they committed the offence unlike Americans who have to be extradited. The punishment can range from 10 years imprisonment (India and Sri Lanka) to death by firing squad (Thailand and China) for child prostitution offences. Americans have to be sent back to USA where only the most serious offences are penalised with imprisonments less than 7 years and some even bargain their sentences to short periods for ‘good behaviour’ or by ‘plea bargains’. It is because of this that predators do not fear the local laws. India, China and Thailand are the only countries where anyone committing a crime in their land is persecuted by national laws rather than sent back to their home country (even if it is USA).

Child prostitution is a violent and brutal crime against children and a crime against humanity. It is the worst form of child labour which scars them physically and emotionally as the children in these poor countries are forced into it against their own will. It is a sick and perverted person who solicits children for sex whether by coercion or prostitution, children who need to go to school to learn alphabets and play with toys. Millions of children in Asia, East Europe and South America are pushed into child prostitution because of paedophile predators every year. If we keep ourselves blind against such crimes it will make our conscience dead. Who knows, one day if things go as they are it might be one of our own…..

More Information and Resources -
Children For Sale - MSNBC
WTO Statement On The Prevention of Organised Sex Tourism

- Article by Maggie Aston; formatted and edited by Aby MC

• Crimes , Violence , Humanity
• Comments(6)