More child prostitutes take to Surabaya's major streets

More child prostitutes take to Surabaya's major streets

JAKARTA (JP): Experts are concerned by the increasing number
of child prostitutes to be found on almost all major streets of
Surabaya, the country's second largest city.

Growing demand by men over 35 for the sexual services of
minors are blamed for the increase.

Antara quoted legal expert Getrudis Angsana as saying the
phenomenon developed in tandem with the onset of the economic
crisis, unlike in Yogyakarta where the incidence of child
prostitution grew whenever payment of school tuition arrived.

"Their number has increased along with the increase in demand
for their services, from clients who are mostly men aged 35 or
older," Angsana said at a seminar held in conjunction with
National Children's Day, which falls on July 23.

"There is now the so-called 'golden triangle' (where child
prostitutes operate), which covers Apsari Park, Simpang Dukuh and
Embong Malang areas."

Angsana, who studied child prostitution for her thesis, said
minors were in demand and could earn more than their adult
counterparts.

"Most of the prostitutes are 15 years of age, and their number
continues to increase because they attract more clients than
adult prostitutes do," she said. "They command prices ranging
from Rp 100,000 to Rp 150,000 for one assignation, so they can
collect up to Rp 500,000 a day."

Their procurers took "only 20 percent" of their payments, she
said. However, they forced the child prostitutes to sleep with
them as part of the relationship.

The seminar, held by the United Nations Children's Fund
(Unicef) and Child Protection Institute (LPA), also featured
health experts Sri Adiningsih and Soehartono.

Angsana identified economic, social and psychological factors
behind the teenagers' decision to enter prostitution. They
included peer pressure, the desire to earn easy money and an
escape from uncaring family circumstance.

Soehartono said the prostitutes faced health risks of unwanted
pregnancy, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other
sexually transmitted diseases. Social ostracism was another
problem.

Hargandono of the provincial office of the Ministry of Social
Services noted policies introduced to curb prostitution,
including the granting of scholarships, the establishment of
halfway houses for street children and home care.

Recent studies in Greater Jakarta and Greater Surabaya found
the institutionalization of child prostitution, with parents,
neighbors and even village officials and chiefs involved. Girls
were raised and treated as "capital" for later income for
parents. Children as young as 12 were sold by their parents to
the highest bidder.

The study was commissioned by the Jakarta office of the
International Labor Organization, whose International Program on
the Elimination of Child Labor has included child prostitution in
its fight against the worst exploitation of working minors.

Director of ILO Jakarta Iftikhar Ahmed opened a workshop on
child labor in Bogor by noting that six million children between
the ages of seven to 15 dropped out of school during the crisis.
Many of them have been forced to work to supplement their
families' income.

"This will cause a massive impact on the quality of
Indonesia's human resources, (which will in turn) adversely
affect the country's future."

He appealed for greater attention to children who were
exploited and forced to work in hazardous jobs.

Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris said in his address that the
problem of child labor was complicated and needed an integrated,
comprehensive approach.

"This is a problem that is associated closely with the social
economic background of our country, our cultural and educational
background," he said.

The workshop will last three days. (swe)