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Aussies target Thai sex trafficking

A welfare agency is pushing to raise awareness of child sex trafficking, of which Australians are the biggest customers in Thailand.

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1 min read

Published

Updated

By Luke Waters

Source: SBS


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Australian welfare agency Child Wise is heading up a campaign to raise awareness of child sex trafficking and exploitation.

Sex tourists from Australia have apparently created a demand for virgins, fuelling a trade in trafficking children from villages in Thailand.

Almost 100,000 Australians have formalised their support for the Child Wise initiative through petitions.

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Child Wise insists governments should offer more funding to affected regions, and urges individuals to take responsibility.

The organisation says anyone who is aware of suspicious activity can contact its representatives who can investigate for them.

The child sex trade is illegal throughout South East Asia, but tourism is lucrative and local authorities are often reluctant to act.

Thailand is the most popular destination for Australian sex travellers.

In Bangkok, Chang Mai and Phuket boys and girls as young as 13 and 14 are sold in bars.

Australians also account for the largest number prosecutions for child sex offences in Thailand, and a significant proportion of those in Cambodia, the Phillipines and Fiji.

It is estimated that two million children currently work in brothels around the world.


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