Child protection drive launched<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
To stem the growing number of children involved in the sex
\nindustry, the government is preparing a nationwide campaign.<\/p>\n
A pilot project will be launched at tourism sites, campaigning
\nthrough posters, stickers and banners, Seto Mulyadi of the
\nNational Commission for Children's Protection (Komnas PA) told a
\nseminar recently.<\/p>\n
\"The pilot project will start in Bali and Batam, as both have
\nnow become potential markets for child prostitution among tourism
\ndestinations in the country,\" said Seto. \"But soon it will spread
\nto other areas.\"<\/p>\n
The pilot project will also cooperate with the tourism
\nindustry -- including hotels, travel agents and restaurants --
\nand will also involve a community awareness campaign.<\/p>\n
The number of children being exposed to sexual exploitation in
\ntourism is increasing exponentially. However, it is hard to
\ndetermine an accurate figure of how many children have been
\naffected, as it is an illegal business.<\/p>\n
Another speaker at the seminar, Maria Hartiningsih of Kompas
\ndaily, said that the number of children involved in the illicit
\nbusiness increased by 50 percent after the 1997 economic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"About 30 percent of the female prostitutes in the country are
\nunder 18 years of age,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Several causes are behind the increasing number of child
\nprostitutes in Indonesia, she said, citing the high number of
\nchildren who drop out from school and the temptation to go into
\nthe business as their families need money.<\/p>\n
\"We also know that in some regions, marriage at a very young
\nage is part of the culture and hence, they are prone to producing
\nvery young divorcees,\" she said. \"Those young widows are widely
\nwelcomed by the industry.\"<\/p>\n
For example, on Batam island near Singapore, she said, almost
\nevery hotel is involved in the business.<\/p>\n
\"Young girls made-up and using sensual body language, sitting
\non old men's laps, is a common scene,\" Maria said, referring to
\npedophilia.<\/p>\n
She said it was time to stop the posturing, the politicking
\nand the endless debating on pedophilia to avoid a case such as
\nthat of the young pedophile victim in the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Minister for Culture and Tourism I Gede Ardika said that
\nIndonesia aimed to build an image of tourism that was free of the
\nsex industry.<\/p>\n
\"We do not want sexual tourism to grow in the country,
\nparticularly the child sex industry,\" he said. \"We should make
\nsure that children are protected from such practices.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/child-protection-drive-launched-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}