Kali

Dr.Jaffe
By Girls For Girls Global
August 3, 2016

Sex Tourism and Human Trafficking: South East Asia

To many in the West, human trafficking is unreal- something that happens in
developing countries, something that doesnt affect us. To others, its a daily hell- a life
they never thought they would have, a curse put upon them from which they cant
escape. The truth is that human trafficking is a global issue. It happens in the richest
and poorest places in the world. Even in the streets of Washington, D.C., the capital of
America, one can find a human trafficking victim. While the whole world is affected by
this tragedy, the focus will be on Thailand- where many of the human trafficking victims
come to and from.
Thailand is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and
children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking (USDOS). Thailand and other
surrounding countries have high unemployment rates. With no jobs and the need for
money, many women look for jobs abroad. With promises of finding a stable job, from
which they will be able to provide for their family, they embark on a journey to a new
country where they become modern day slaves. In other instances, homeless children
are kidnapped, or children are sold by their own family members.
During the 1980s, the Thai government realized that tourism was an effective
way to get foreign money into the country, hence it invested 504 baht in the 1980s to
promote tourism in Thailand. Today, it is estimated that the prostitution industry brings in

anywhere from 2.5-4 billion dollars each year and employs about 200,000 people
(Morris 2002: 2). An estimated 10 million people visit Thailand every year, from these
60% are men and 70% of those men are sex tourist. In hopes of improving their
economy the Thai government welcomed sex tourism. Nevertheless, foreign men are
not the only customers. Many believe that most customers are foreign men; however,
most customers are Thai men. A study at Chiang Mai University found that, in Thai
society, boys begin to buy women when they are around 13 years old; 50 percent of 16year-old boys and 90 percent of university students go to brothels (Bailey, 2004). From
a young age, boys are taught that women are something to be bought, this only ensures
that the demand for women continues to grow.
While most customers are Thai men, foreign men play a key role in the industry.
Not only do they bring foreign money, they also hope for many women. Many women
look for more than just a one night job. As explained by the documentary My Boyfriend
the Sex Tourist, many Thai girls go into prostitution in hopes of finding a foreign
husband who will be able to give them a new lifestyle. Many girls have found foreign
husbands and gone back to Thailand to build big houses for themselves-many womens
fantasy.
Some might say that prostitution is a choice- a woman can decide to do as she
desires with her body. However, one has to look at the deeper issue: human trafficking.
Human trafficking is especially a problem when it comes to kids, and evidence shows
that an estimated 40% of Thai FSWs entered as minors or are currently under the age
of 18. Data shows that 530 foreign trafficked people were receiving assistance from the
BATWC as of December 31, 2009(SIREN). Although 530 people were able to find help

it is estimated that 425,500 people in Thailand are modern day slaves(WOUK). The
profile of CSE victims is difficult to defineolder teenage girls (15 17) and young
women are commonly found in entertainment hotspots, bars and hotels. On the streets,
the age of victims tends to be younger (under 17) with many children performing
survival sex and a higher prevalence of young boys available to service the demands of
male tourists(UN-ACT).
Men are also victims of human trafficking. They are sold to fishing vessels where
some men remain at sea for up to several years, are paid very little, are expected to
work 18 to 20 hours per day for seven days a week, or are threatened and physically
beaten (USDOS). In 2009, 103 Thai human trafficking victims were able to return; 65 of
those victims were males.
Another phenomenon in the human trafficking world is abducting homeless
children and trafficking them to Thailand where they are forced beggars. There is limited
data indicating the extent of children trafficked into this situation; however, estimates
from Friends International research suggest as many as 80 percent of child beggars in
Thailand are Cambodian (UN-ACT).
Continuing the trend, many children are sold by their families. These kids are
now ending up in orphanages. These orphanages are making money from, funding
from foreign donors coupled with increasing numbers of tourists attempting to add value
to their vacations by volunteering at orphanages has driven the increase in residential
care facilities(UN-ACT).
Thailand has many laws which make all of these things illegal. However, they
are not enforced. Some NGOs or now helping victims, yet they should be forming

relationships with the Thai government in order to be able to help more people. Another
way to help modern day slaves is to inform tourists about the consequences of having
sex with minors and victims of human trafficking. One can also help by boycotting the
airlines that promote sex tourism.

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