Preteen And Child Exploitation Tourism Research
| Lack of comprehensive laws and the inability of the government to strictly enforce existing laws have led to the staggering rise in the gruesome and heinous act of child tourism in Thailand. |
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According to the reports of International Labor Organization, around 12,000 children are illegally trafficked into Thailand annually for the purpose of tourism. According to a study conducted by the Thai Government and various Thai NGOs, there are around 30,000-40,000 minors under the age of 18 who are exploited as prostitutes.
According to the Prostitution Prevention and Suppression Act, 1996 Child prostitution has been declared illegal by the Thai government. There are several punishments for offenders, lawbreakers and traffickers that have been stated in the Measures in Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Women and Children Act, 1997. Recent studies indicated that there has been a reduction in the number of Thai Children being forced into this trade due to improved economy and better education. But, the problem still persists. The children are being trafficked in large numbers from neighboring Cambodia, Laos, Burma, China and Vietnam.
The reasons for the exploitation of children are many. The main reason is poverty and the impoverished conditions. One third of the population has a earning of US$ 2 per day. The situation is even worse in northeast part of the country. Around 800,000 to 900,000 people in Thailand are hill tribes. These people lack education, proper employment, and better health facilities. Another reason is illegal trafficking. Criminal networks lure children and women with better jobs and money, but finally transport them to brothels where they are exploited in appropiate way. Many of the children enter this trade with a responsibility of fending for their poor family.
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