ASEAN strives to fight child prostitution

ASEAN strives to fight child prostitution

PHNOM PENH (AFP): Southeast Asian tourism delegates wound-up a two-day conference here on Friday pledging to help negate child prostitution through education, law enforcement and improved standards of living.

"There is a lot of concern with child prostitution, and with all types of prostitution," said Thamrin Bachri, the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)- conference.

Bachri, from Indonesia's department of culture and tourism, said economics was the chief cause of people entering prostitution.

Members of ASEAN -- which comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- have become prime destinations for sex holidays.

And with member countries pushing ASEAN as a single tourist destination point, delegates fear that perceptions of some countries being havens for paedophilia could tarnish other nations within the regional group.

Bachri said part of the solution was to raise standards of living and coordinate efforts by education departments, law enforcement agencies and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) within ASEAN.

"Education not only at the formal level but at the community level as well," Bachri said.

Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand are well know destinations for sex holidays and serious concerns were voiced by delegates from Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei.

Cambodia has been singled out in recent media reports for being a haven for paedophiles to abuse children without getting caught.

"It's very sad but we have every confidence the Cambodian government will do its best to address the problem," Sheikh Jamaluddin Mohamad, director general of Brunei Tourism, said.

Asad Shiraz, a senior director with the Singapore Tourism Board, said closer cooperation between police forces within member countries and communicating the issues correctly abroad were important.

"We were able to draw on our combined knowledge, particularly with Thailand, it was a great opportunity to move critical issues forward," he said.