What is trafficking of children for prostitution?

Trafficking of children for prostitution is a global problem and we cannot single out any country. Poverty is the main reason for this evil and many believe the good job offers as domestic workers, in restaurants or hotels or any other jobs. In the host country they land mostly in the brothels and in private clubs.

50% of the women trafficked are minors. Tens of thousand times women believe false promises of men and in the destination with physical force, drugs or torture they will be broken to engage in prostitution. Everybody knows this but very little is happening to stop this.

If a girl could earn the monthly income of her father in one night some father’s even in Eastern Europe send their daughter for this work. It is a shame, but poverty is the root cause for this. Asia, Africa, South America and East European countries are the main places from where the women and children are trafficked for prostitution. Unfortunately, sometimes, the father or the husband sells minor girls or wife and this happens even in India.

Domestic workers face serious abuses and exploitation such as physical and sexual abuse, excessive working hours, no rest days, almost house arrest, punishments like denial of food and health care, and above all non-payment of wages. Most governments, including those in Western countries, exclude domestic workers from the coverage of the labour laws. Thus they have no protection and suffer a lot. These abuses take place in private homes and the public has no chance to know or see these offences.

Trafficking in children also takes place to train the children to beg. Parts of the body are damaged so that they could get more money. Some are trained to be pickpockets and others are exploited as drug couriers because in some countries children below 14 are not tried in the court of law.

We preach everyday so many good things for others. Here the children are physically and mentally destroyed. Are we not in a position to stop this evil? Anyhow, it is a shame to all. It can happen to any child. So protect your children very carefully.

For further details read my book “Sexual Abuse of Children and Sex Health Education” published in Aaron Verlag Publishers Private Limited. The original is in English and the Tamil translation is also available. It is also available as e-book. For further particulars visit www.aaronverlag.com.

What is child prostitution?

Child prostitution is the practice whereby a child is used by others for sexual activities in return for remuneration or any other form of consideration. The remuneration or other consideration could be provided to the child or to another person. A child abuser or a pimp can be the organizer.

According to World Forum of Child Labour Convention, 1999, of the International Labour Organization, the use, procuring or offering a child for prostitution is one of the worst forms of child labour and exploitation.

Child prostitution is a Taboo theme for the normal public and they also know less about this. But the customers or the abusers also come from all the societies. The children are the victim mostly because they are physically weak and helpless to defend themselves.

The estimated number of sex-workers in India is more than a million and 30% are believed to be children. It is increasing around 10% every year. The situation in Mumbai is extreme but it is prevalent in all the big cities. It may be different in Hyderabad than in Chennai and depends on various factors.

The police are in a position to crack down child prostitution in India without any problem. It does not materialize because of the lack of places everywhere for the victims. Place to live, school education, social security and a fair chance for the integration is the urgent need. Here, politics, industries and the society must have the will and courage to arrange to realize this.

It is not mainly sex tourism which creates child prostitution in India like in many developing countries. It is mostly gender discrimination and trafficking of children as well as selling children from various sources, may be from parents or husbands. Incest also plays a role here.

The myth that a man can get rid off HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases if he sleeps with a virgin has increased the demand for virgins and children. This is particularly worst in Africa. The result is an increase in the number of HIV infected women as well as their infected children. They pay this high price although they are innocent.

Child prostitution is not only a problem of big cities but it is present everywhere including rural areas in the world. In most of the countries there are very strict laws against child prostitution or trafficking but in reality it sees entirely different. Unfortunately, the men who have to guarantee these rights are also the men with weakness. It is applicable to developed countries also in every field. They are not weak men; I would rather say they are mentally sick men with less chance to have a normal relationship with women or old. There are several examples throughout the world for this.

Poverty, lack of love and affection in the family, loneliness, problems at school and alcohol and drug addiction are the main reasons which push children to this evil. The average age of a child prostitute is 13 years. We do not go in detail to their health damage physically as well as psychologically, but these are very serious. A child prostitute becomes a whore when she becomes an adult and mostly the fate of her girl child is also the same.

In Africa this problem has the following grounds:

The myth about virgin and HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases
Pornography and everything extreme connected to this
Demand for black children from North American and European men for sexual purposes. Here, most of the victims are girl-children but there are also male-teenage victims who serve women.

Not to forget the poverty or civil war connected crimes to children, the weakest member of the society.

Moreover, we should not forget the age of consent for sex in many countries is 13 years old and 13 year old is for me a child. It is a shame.

For further details read my book “Sexual Abuse of Children and Sex Health Education” published in Aaron Verlag Publishers Private Limited. The original is in English and the Tamil translation is also available. It is also available as e-book. For further particulars visit www.aaronverlag.com.

What are the evils of sex tourism?

Imagine one books his holidays, two to three weeks, mostly in a developing country and at the same time he books also a virgin child for these weeks.

This child is a sex slave, so to speak, to this person for this time without any rights. This is an inhuman evil in the sexual abuse of a child. If he has HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases, child might get that too.

Some countries like Germany punish their citizens if the issue comes out in the open, and the local police could also take action. If one observes such things it is better to inform the police immediately. But many hotels tolerate this to get guests and a regular unannounced control will help here to control this evil. The black market is flourishing and poverty and big quick money make it possible for such worst decisions of the families to send their daughters and sons for this horrible work.

This evil damages the body as well as the mind of the child for its rest of life. It is very difficult for them later in their life to develop normal contact to their better half.

Yes, boys are also sexually abused in sex tourism. When I asked a person known to me how it is possible in her country, the straight answer was that many families think it is better to send the son than spoiling the daughter.

To stop this evil every individual can do his best. Keep your eyes open and if something unwanted happens inform the police immediately.

Children are the wealth of our earth and it is our duty to prevent this evil.

For further details read my book “Sexual Abuse of Children and Sex Health Education” published in Aaron Verlag Publishers Private Limited. The original is in English and the Tamil translation is also available. It is also available as e-book. For further particulars visit www.aaronverlag.com.