Child Sex Tourism

What is Child Sex Tourism?

• Child sex tourism (CST) is the commercial sexual exploitation of children by people who travel from one place to another to engage in sexual acts with minors.
• CST is a form of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).
• A child sex tourist travels away from his/her home and has sexual contact with a minor in exchange for some sort of payment.
• Often, child sex tourists travel from a richer country to one that is less developed.
• Perpetrators may be visiting the country on vacation; or, as increasingly is the case, may establish a residence in the country while working as a teacher, volunteer or in some other trade.

Child Sex Tourism Facts and Statistics

• It is estimated that worldwide, 1.8 million children are sexually exploited every year.
• Most CST cases follow the industrialized-to-developing-country pattern-Canadians and Americans travelling to Mexico and countries in Central and South America to engage in sexual activity with children.

• Mexico
  • More than 20,000 minors were victims of prostitution in 2005.
  • 18 out of 50 American CST cases reported from 2003-2006 involved crimes committed in Mexico.
  • The cities in which CST abuse is most frequent include Tijuana, Acapulco, Cancun, and Guadalajara.
• Colombia
  • There are an estimated 20,000-35,000 child victims of CSEC in Colombia.
  • The cities in which abuse is most frequent include Cartagena and Bogota.
  • In Cartagena, 1,500 boys and girls are estimated to be exploited in the sex industry.

Who Profits/Benefits from Child Sex Tourism?

The prevalence of child sex tourism can be linked directly to its profitability. The industry has many players, all of whom directly or indirectly profit from the sexual exploitation of children. Some of these key players include:

• Hotel owners and staff
• Brothel operators
• Tour organizers
• Travel agencies
• Local law enforcement
• Local government

What Ultimately Happens to these Children?

The physical and psychological effects of sexual exploitation are severe. Children abused by sex tourists are often stigmatized by their local communities, and may become social outcasts. This can make getting an education and living independently difficult if not impossible for them later on in life. Additionally, they may suffer physical effects from the abuse including sexually transmitted infections (STDs, HIV) or unwanted pregnancies, and may also suffer psychologically from guilt, low self-esteem, or depression.

Law: When and Why was it Enacted?

Part of the allure of sex tourism is the idea that you can engage in an illegal activity in one country, and then return back to the United States with no accountability for your actions. This is not the case; two pieces of legislation allow for the U.S. prosecution of sex crimes committed in other countries.

• Extraterritorial Legislation
  • Extraterritorial legislation is the extension of a country’s legislative reach to include crimes committed by a national or resident of that country beyond the borders of that country.
  • This legislation means that a sex tourist can be tried and sentenced in their country for a crime they committed abroad.
  • The United States can use extraterritorial legislation to hold American sex tourists responsible for crimes they committed against children in other countries.
• Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000
  • This act created two new nonimmigrant visas for victims of trafficking and for victims of certain serious crimes, including victims of crimes against women.
  • These visas allow the victims entry into the U.S. if they agree to testify against their abusers.
  • Sec. 107 (b) 1 A- “…an alien who is a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons shall be eligible for benefits and services under any Federal or State program funded or administered by any official or agency described in subparagraph (B) to the same extent as an alien who is admitted into the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
  • Sec. 107 (b) 1 B-“…Federal agencies shall expand benefits and services to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons in the United States, without regard to the immigration status of such victims.”
  • Sec. 107 (b) 1 E-“… [The victim must be] willing to assist in every reasonable way in the investigation and prosecution of severe forms of trafficking in persons.”

Let’s Take Action

These laws give us the tools we need to fight child sex tourism in America and beyond. Let’s work together to end this harmful practice.

An Experienced National Child Injury Firm

Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys are committed to fighting Child Sex Tourism in America and beyond. At Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys, we believe that all children have a right to health, safety, protection, and freedom from harm. Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys have the experience and resources necessary to tackle international cases and are capable of handling child sex tourism cases in North, Central, and South America. Let’s work together to bring justice to victims of sex tourism and bring an end to this harmful practice.