By Renne Kliofis
Human rights violations have plagued the world for centuries. People fight for their gender or race, but what about the rights of children. Who are being sexually exploited? Children cannot defend themselves -- especially against those whom they trust. Child sex tourism is just one of the branches on the tree of debate in human rights.The quickly elevating rate of sex tourism presents a devastating image for all. Sex tourism by definition is the act of traveling to engage in sexual intercourse or sexual activity with prostitutes, and is typically undertaken internationally by tourists from wealthier countries. Sex tourists tend to converge on places to nations such as Brazil, Thailand, Cambodia, Costa Rica and Mexico, because those places offer little protection against these predators. In 1997 UNICEF estimated that more that one million children were involved in sex tourism. This number has since sky-rocketed. It is nearly impossible to provide accurate statistics about the number of children involved in prostitution, but studies show that 325,000 children are sexually exploited in the United States annually, and 40 percent of the girls who engaged in prostitution were sexually abused at home, as were 30 percent of the boys.Child Sex Tourism is a shameful assault on the dignity of children and a form of violent child abuse. The practice exploits children and is in league with pedophilia and child pornography. The commercial sexual exploitation of children has devastating consequences for these minors, including long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, disease (including HIV/AIDS), drug addiction, unwanted pregnancy, malnutrition, social ostracism, and possibly death.“On this trip, I’ve had sex with a 14 year-old girl in Mexico and a 15 year-old in Colombia. I’m helping them financially. If they don’t have sex with me, they may not have enough food. If someone has a problem with me doing this, let UNICEF feed them.”-Retired U.S. Schoolteacher.The justification offered by sex tourists ignores the exploitation and abuse suffered by these children. The violation that these children suffer impedes on their rights as human beings and cannot be justified.Studies by the UN and World Vision show that prostitution by young and old is largely involuntary; rather, they are forced into it by pimps, are sold by their own families. “Maria is . . . prostituted by her aunt. Maria is obliged to sell her body exclusively to foreign tourists in Costa Rica; she only works mornings, as she has to attend school in the afternoon. Maria is in fifth grade.” A child of this age, under both the international and individual nation state laws, is under the protection of a parent or guardian. This guardian has the responsibility to uphold the child’s rights without exception whatsoever. The Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that “the child shall enjoy special protection, and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means, to enable him to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity.” Sex tourism directly denies this right. It also violates the dictum that children “shall in no case be caused or permitted to engage in any occupation or employment which would prejudice his health or education, or interfere with his physical, mental or moral development.”The Universal Declaration of Rights of the Child is in place to protect and support children, ensuring that their rights are upheld. If so, then why are children forced into prostitution and the sex tourism trade? Why are children forced into this form of abuse with no way out?In 2003, the United States strengthened its ability to fight child sex tourism by passing the Prosecutorial Remedies and other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act and the Trafficking Victim’s Protection Reauthorization Act. These laws increase penalties to a maximum of 30 years in prison for engaging in child sex tourism. Since the enactment of the PROTECT Act in 2003, there have been over 20 indictments and over a dozen convictions of child sex tourists. While these indictments are a positive step, the reality of sex tourism is a much graver issue. In China more than 10,000 women and children are abducted and sold each year in Sichaun alone. In San Jose, Costa Rica alone more than 2,000 child prostitutes are regularly sold to foreign pedophiles as part of sex-tour “packages.”With the promotion of extended education concerning child sex tourism, citizens are becoming aware of what is happening in other countries, and even their own country. Sex tourism is a problem throughout the world and needs to be dealt with quickly so that children are no longer exploited and can live their early lives innocently and safely.
Human rights violations have plagued the world for centuries. People fight for their gender or race, but what about the rights of children. Who are being sexually exploited? Children cannot defend themselves -- especially against those whom they trust. Child sex tourism is just one of the branches on the tree of debate in human rights.The quickly elevating rate of sex tourism presents a devastating image for all. Sex tourism by definition is the act of traveling to engage in sexual intercourse or sexual activity with prostitutes, and is typically undertaken internationally by tourists from wealthier countries. Sex tourists tend to converge on places to nations such as Brazil, Thailand, Cambodia, Costa Rica and Mexico, because those places offer little protection against these predators. In 1997 UNICEF estimated that more that one million children were involved in sex tourism. This number has since sky-rocketed. It is nearly impossible to provide accurate statistics about the number of children involved in prostitution, but studies show that 325,000 children are sexually exploited in the United States annually, and 40 percent of the girls who engaged in prostitution were sexually abused at home, as were 30 percent of the boys.Child Sex Tourism is a shameful assault on the dignity of children and a form of violent child abuse. The practice exploits children and is in league with pedophilia and child pornography. The commercial sexual exploitation of children has devastating consequences for these minors, including long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, disease (including HIV/AIDS), drug addiction, unwanted pregnancy, malnutrition, social ostracism, and possibly death.“On this trip, I’ve had sex with a 14 year-old girl in Mexico and a 15 year-old in Colombia. I’m helping them financially. If they don’t have sex with me, they may not have enough food. If someone has a problem with me doing this, let UNICEF feed them.”-Retired U.S. Schoolteacher.The justification offered by sex tourists ignores the exploitation and abuse suffered by these children. The violation that these children suffer impedes on their rights as human beings and cannot be justified.Studies by the UN and World Vision show that prostitution by young and old is largely involuntary; rather, they are forced into it by pimps, are sold by their own families. “Maria is . . . prostituted by her aunt. Maria is obliged to sell her body exclusively to foreign tourists in Costa Rica; she only works mornings, as she has to attend school in the afternoon. Maria is in fifth grade.” A child of this age, under both the international and individual nation state laws, is under the protection of a parent or guardian. This guardian has the responsibility to uphold the child’s rights without exception whatsoever. The Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that “the child shall enjoy special protection, and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means, to enable him to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity.” Sex tourism directly denies this right. It also violates the dictum that children “shall in no case be caused or permitted to engage in any occupation or employment which would prejudice his health or education, or interfere with his physical, mental or moral development.”The Universal Declaration of Rights of the Child is in place to protect and support children, ensuring that their rights are upheld. If so, then why are children forced into prostitution and the sex tourism trade? Why are children forced into this form of abuse with no way out?In 2003, the United States strengthened its ability to fight child sex tourism by passing the Prosecutorial Remedies and other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act and the Trafficking Victim’s Protection Reauthorization Act. These laws increase penalties to a maximum of 30 years in prison for engaging in child sex tourism. Since the enactment of the PROTECT Act in 2003, there have been over 20 indictments and over a dozen convictions of child sex tourists. While these indictments are a positive step, the reality of sex tourism is a much graver issue. In China more than 10,000 women and children are abducted and sold each year in Sichaun alone. In San Jose, Costa Rica alone more than 2,000 child prostitutes are regularly sold to foreign pedophiles as part of sex-tour “packages.”With the promotion of extended education concerning child sex tourism, citizens are becoming aware of what is happening in other countries, and even their own country. Sex tourism is a problem throughout the world and needs to be dealt with quickly so that children are no longer exploited and can live their early lives innocently and safely.
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