Report exposes child sex tourism
Report exposes child sex tourism – FBC News FBC News
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The Issue of Child Sex Tourism in Fiji
The 2023 US Department of State report on Human Rights Practices has shed light on the problem of child sex tourism in popular tourist destinations like Nadi and Savusavu.
Exploitation of Vulnerable Children
The report reveals that traffickers take advantage of high school-aged children, as well as homeless and unemployed youth, engaging them in sex trafficking activities.
Various cases of child sex trafficking have been documented, involving family members, taxi drivers, foreign tourists, businessmen, and crew members on foreign fishing vessels.
Factors Contributing to Child Sex Trafficking
The report highlights that child sex trafficking persists due to increased urbanization and the breakdown of traditional community and extended family structures. These factors make children more vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation.
Legal Consequences and Prosecutions
Buying or hiring a child under the age of 18 for sex, commercial sex, or any other unlawful purposes is considered a criminal offense punishable by a maximum of 12 years imprisonment.
Reports of child trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation have resulted in prosecutions.
Child Abuse and Neglect
The report also addresses the prevalence of child abuse, with 32 cases of child sexual abuse reported to the Fiji Women’s Crisis Center in August of last year.
Urbanization, the breakdown of extended family structures, and neglect have contributed to the rise in abuse cases.
Inadequate Support for Victims
As a result, more children are seeking shelter in state-funded homes. However, the report highlights that these facilities are often overburdened and unable to adequately assist all victims.
Government Initiatives and Laws
The government has implemented a public awareness campaign against child abuse. Laws against child abuse mandate mandatory reporting to the police by teachers, healthcare workers, and social welfare workers for any suspected cases.
Despite the Education Ministry’s policy forbidding corporal punishment in the classroom, it remains common in schools.
Addressing Concerns
The concerns raised in this report have been directed to the Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, as well as the Fiji Police Force.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age group |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms | Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18 |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to these SDGs because they involve child sex trafficking, exploitation, and abuse, which are violations of human rights and indicators of gender inequality, lack of decent work opportunities, and the need for strong institutions to address these issues.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation
- Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
The article highlights the need to address violence against children, specifically child sex trafficking and exploitation. These targets address the issues discussed in the article.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age group
- Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group
- Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18
The article mentions the prevalence of child sex trafficking, abuse, and exploitation. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the targets by collecting data on the proportion and number of children and young people who experience these forms of violence and exploitation.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age group |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms | Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18 |
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Fuente: fbcnews.com.fj
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