Child sex tourism is the commercial sexual exploitation of children by people who travel from one location to another and there engage in sexual acts with minors. Child sex tourists may be foreigners or may be locals who are traveling within their own country. Tourism is not the cause of child sexual exploitation but the child sex exploiters make use of the facilities offered by tour companies.
Data from World Tourism Organization (WTO) shows that there are more than one million children who are sexually abused in prostitution through tourism industries all over the globe. The data also suggests that the issue of child sex tourism is serious and the number of children who are involved in child prostitution through tourism industries keeps increasing every year. Unfortunately, this issue has not received special attention yet from tourism industries, government, law enforcers and private sectors as special attention on this issue may result in the decreasing number of tourists.
ECPAT International states that more than any other region, Asia, particularly Southeast Asia and certain countries in South Asia, has long been the target of child sex tourists. Thailand and the Philippines, partly due to their existing “sex industries”, have been frequently associated with child sex tourism. However, other countries have emerged as prime child sex tourist destinations: Cambodia and Vietnam are said to have suffered an influx of child sex tourists as a result of increased efforts to combat the issue in Thailand. Similarly, Indonesia cannot prevent the emergence of the issue of child sex tourism in the country. This can be seen from the emerged CSEC cases involving tourists in some areas in Indonesia, especially in Bali, Lombok and Batam Islands.
Generally, children who are involved in child sex tourism come from poor families. Since their families cannot afford to meet the family needs, this leads them into prostitution. A case study carried out in Vietnam revealed that children who were involved in sex tourism industries came from poor families and were victims of mistreatments and suppression. Even, some of them had been sexually and physically abused before finally being sent to tourism industries. Other study carried out in Indonesia revealed that in addition to the above-mentioned factors, the involvement of children in sex industries was also caused by the negative impacts of television programs on young people. As already known, television always exposed children to consumerism values and city lifestyle. Consequently, poor children from outskirts and rural areas tried to follow what they watched on television. In addition, children living in tourist destinations are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse by sex offenders. These sex offenders can be divided into three groups, namely: situational sex offender, preferential sex offenders and pedophile.
When children are involved in sex industries, it may endanger their future. In addition, these children are particularly at risk of being sexually abused by the perpetrators and being infected with HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. A report by a Cambodian NGO showed that 70% of children rescued from red light districts were infected with HIV/AIDS and therefore the majority of the rescued victims could not be reintegrated into their family and community. Additionally, many of the victims usually suffered from long-term trauma.
Since child sex tourism is complex and involves tourism industries from different countries which most of them are private and business sectors, a regional and an international cooperation is needed to effectively combat the issue all over the world, especially in Southeast Asia region. This cooperation not only involves governmental organizations but also involves private sectors as well as non governmental and international organizations.
OBJECTIVES
Following are the objectives of this conference:
1. To discuss the situations of child sex tourism in Southeast Asia region by involving relevant parties
2. To share models and experiences in combating child sex tourism in Southeast Asia region
3. To develop cooperation mechanisms in combating child sex tourism in Southeast Asia region
OUTPUTS
Below are the expected outputs of this conference:
1. The mapping of the problems and situations of child sex tourism in Southeast Asia region
2. The identification of models and best practices in combating child sex tourism to be used as a model in other regions
3. The establishment of coordination and cooperation among relevant parties in Southeast Asia Region in combating child sex tourism
4. The availability of a joint commitment among the participants to combat child sex tourism in Southeast Asia region
CONFERENCE MECHANISM
Methodology
This conference will use two methods, namely: presentation by speakers and open discussion to draft a declaration/commitment and recommendations in combating child sex tourism in Southeast Asia region.
The presentation will be divided into two different sessions, namely: plenary and parallel sessions.
To identify potential speakers, the committee will widely announce this event through website, email and poster and invite interested speakers to send their abstracts. Then, the steering committee will review the abstracts and select the best ones to be presented at the conference.
Exhibition, poster and video presentations
In addition to paper presentations, the committee also will organize a campaign material exhibition as well as video and poster presentations. Therefore, the committee will give a chance and encourage the participants to participate in this.
TARGET PARTICIPANT
An estimation of 350 participants from different countries within and outside Southeast Asia region will attend this conference. The participants come from various sectors like governmental and non governmental organizations, private sectors, international organizations, mass media, parliament members, police, universities and potential individuals.
CONFERENCE VENUE
SANUR PARADISE PLAZA HOTEL & SUITES
Jalan Hang Tuah 46, Sanur 80228 Bali ,, INDONESIA
Tel. 62-361-281781
Fax. 62.361-289166
E-mai:jojo@sanur.pphotels.com
Website: www.sanurparadise.com
Conference Structure
Steering Committee:
1. Ahmad Sofian: Executive Secretary of PKPA/Center for Study and Child Protection
2. Dr.Surjadi Soeparman,MPH,Deputy of Protection,Ministtry Women Empowermwnt of Republic Indonesia
3. Dr.s.Bakri: Departmen of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia
4. Apong Herlina: Legal Practitioner
5. Anne Marie Watie: Gadjah Mada University,Yogyakarta
6. Prof. Irwanto,Phd: Atmajaya University,President of National Coalition against CSEC (ECPAT affliliate group in Indonesia)
INFORMATION & CORESPONDENCE
Questions about the conference should be addressed to:
The secretariat
Southeast Asia Conference on Child Sex Tourism
PUSAT KAJIAN DAN PERLINDUNGAN ANAK
(CENTER FOR STUDY AND CHILD PROTECTION)
- Jalan Abdul Hakim No 5 A Pasar 1 Setia Budi Medan,Indonesia
Phone: 62.61. 8200170,8211117 Facs. 62.61.8213009
- Jalan Abdul Muis No 7 Jakarta Pusat Phone 021- 3863630, Fax 021-3863631
E-mail:
cstconference@gmail.com,
pkpamdn@indosat.net.id
More information can be found on:
http://cstconference.blogspot.com
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