Sex tourism : the Fondation Scelles works at young people’awareness

Published on Thursday, 26 January 2017 10:32

In the framework of the Fondation Scelles’educational actions intending to improve the youth’s awareness so as to better prevent and fight sexual exploitation, Frederic Boisard who is a project responsible at the Fondation Scelles, regularly comes to the Cergy-Pontoise University to speak to tourism students. In January 2017, he presented the national and international stakes of the fight against the resort to the prostitution of others (adults and minors) while travelling professionally or for leisure ; this has been identified as « sex tourism » for many years and is an ever- growing globalized phenomenon.

Read also >> The Fondation Scelles 2013 Global Report « Sexual Exploitation. A growing menace »- « Sex tourism » p.84

What is the threat like ? A global phenomenon on a wide range

To date no country is immune to sex tourism, quickened by globalization and ever growing exchanges and tourism, particularly in its modern forms through the web -1.13 billion international travellers were counted in 2014 vs 527 millions in 1995 ; the development of the Internet which is an unlimited space for contacts under the cover of anonymity and the increasing precariousness and inequalities between countries also result in this phenomenon which knows an unprecedented reach all over the world with an ever growing proportion of child victims.

Predators essentially come from Europe, North America and Japan. Their favourite destinations are South-Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Burma), the Caribbean, (Santo Domingo), South America (Brazil), Central America (Costa Rica), Africa (Senegal, Kenya, Madagascar where child prostitution is endemic) and particularly touristic coast areas. On this world map of sex tourism, Europe is, on the one hand, an identified source region which has been identified for many years and concerns new countries like Russia and Turkey and, on the other hand, is a destination place involving countries like Ukraine, Moldavia or Turkey.

However, sex tourism tends to be exercised on the region level in its latest developments. In fact it is not only a question  concerning foreigners as most of the  perpetuators of this sexual exploitation are local, national or regional travellers.

 
Who are the exploiters and their victims ? men with varied faces, who are «fond » of children

« Preferential exploiters » choose their destination depending on the availability of the kind of sought- after victims while « occasional exploiters » take action when there is an opportunity, urged by anonymity and practical impunity for travellers in some countries ; in addition, the exploiters’profiles (90% men) have diversified significantly these last twenty years. The « cliché » of « white, western,rich, middle-aged men » has been replaced by a protean reality which is a mixture of tourists, business travellers, migrants, temporary workers, « aggressive » volunteers (who get into contact with the NGO’s and travel under the cover of humanitarian actions so as to be close to victims and abuse them sexually), expatriates, pensioners, foreign or local, young or older people… All these predators act as « clubs » exchanging informations about « practices », risky areas, « good plans »…without scruples.

The proportion of children is increasing amongst the victims of this sexual exploitation, who are often completely marginalized after breaking from their family and society. They are extremely vulnerable to STI and suffer serious sexual, physical and psychological consequences which are, in most cases, irreversible.

>> Read also the ECPAT report on children’s exploitation in trips and tourism (May 2016)

Which are the undertaken actions ? insufficient means and results

Although national and international legislations do exist with the aim of protecting children and adults against this sexual exploitation, they are not properly enforced and fail to stop the phenomenon ; it is due to the lack of action coordination and information exchanges among the authorities, particularly when it is facilitated by paramount corruption which is sometimes endemic in certain countries. Nevertheless it should be underscored that, when prevention and repression policies are implemented, the phenomenon decrease in the relevant  country, proving real the effect of the abolitionist judiciary measures. But, as systematically too, the phenomenon reaches near-by countries which are less dissuasive, showing thus the need to cooperate on the regional and global levels.

The extraterritorial laws constitute a key element in the fight against this phenomenon, allowing to prosecute the delinquent in the country where the offence was perpetrated or in his origin country. But prosecutions and convictions are still very much limited.

For several years, many initiatives by NGO’s and institutions have been trying to develop a reponsible tourism, particularly through working with tourism industry actors  on the definition and implementation of good practises. Regular awareness campaigns encourage everyone to be responsible and to report suspect situations, in particular through reports platforms. In addition to the political will, collective awareness is primary to fight this serious threat and protect the most vulnerable individuals.

To know more

>> L'Europe, terre du tourisme sexuel, 2/11/2011

>> Une sociologie critique du tourisme sexuel, 2/11/2011

>> Report on sex tourism in Latvia

>> Docu-Club website Cergy Pontoise University