About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

4 Pac. Rim L. & Pol'y J. 505 (1995)
Child Sex Tourism to Thailand: The Role of the United States as a Consumer Country

handle is hein.journals/pacrimlp4 and id is 521 raw text is: Copyright 0 1995 Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association CHILD SEX TOURISM TO THAILAND: THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES AS A CONSUMER COUNTRY Vickie F. Li Abstract: The proliferation of child prostitution in Thailand has been closely linked to the explosive growth of the sex industry. Political, economic, and cultural factors in- ternal to Thailand alongside external forces from foreign sex tourism, have all contributed to the rising number of prostituted children. In September 1994, the United States enacted an amendment to the Mann Act to prosecute citizens for traveling or con- spiring to travel abroad with the intent to engage minors in sexual activities. This Comment traces the development of child prostitution in Thailand and examines the effect of U.S. law in deterring sex tourism abroad. Comparisons to the laws in Europe and Australia demonstrate the procedural difficulties of establishing extraterritorial jurisdiction and meeting evidentiary standards. Consequently, law enforcement meas- ures, educational campaigns, and ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child should supplement the United States' legal actions in deterring the demand for prostituted children in Thailand. I. INTRODUCTION Long regarded as the foremost destination for sex tourism,I Thailand has been unable to prevent the sex industry's explosive growth within its borders. Child prostitution is inextricably intertwined with this industry and has resulted in a rapidly rising number of prostituted children.2 Political events, economic interests, cultural beliefs, and misconceptions about AIDS have all contributed to the proliferation of child prostitution in Thailand. Although Thai laws expressly condemn sexual offenses against children,3 the laws have been relatively ineffective due to poor law enforcement. However, child prostitution not only is locally supported, but also is sus- tained by tourists from the United States, Europe, and Australia.4 As a 1 Lucy Johnson, Children Human Rights: British Child Sex Tourists Go Unpunished, Inter Press Service, June 22, 1994, available in LEXIS, EUROPE Library, ALLNWS File. 2 Douglas Hodgson, Sex Tourism & Child Prostitution in Asia: Legal Responses & Strategies, 19 ME.B. U.L. REV. 512 (1994). The author uses the term prostituted child instead of prostitute to avoid the stigma that is often associated with prostitution. Many countries declare prostitution to be illegal, giv- ing the term prostitute a criminal connotation. However, in discussions about child prostitution, the child is generally seen as a victim and not a criminal. 3 Thail. Criminal Code, §§ 277, 286 (1989). See infra note 72 and accompanying text. 4 The organization, Protection of Children's Rights, notes that there are many Asian men, as well as men from the United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand who are customers of child prostitutes in Asia. A number of the Asian men come from Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most