UNICEF warns of child abuse

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YANGON, 5 February 2014: UNICEF's Children's Protection Fund  in Myanmar says the country should act now to ensure children are safe from economic abuse and sexual exploitation by tourists.

UNICEF's children's protection officer, Khin Thiri Win, told local media that cases of tourists luring children for sex was on the increase.

"Look at neighbouring country, Cambodia. They have seen a 65% increase in tourist arrivals in just one year, and there has been a corresponding rise in the exploitation of children."

The officer added: "The trend could spread to Myanmar. Therefore, concerned organisations should take preventive measures."

Tourism is one of major industries from which Myanmar earns foreign exchange revenue.

The country has welcomed record numbers of so-called heritage and business tourists over the last two years.

Myanmar Tourist Guide Association representative, Tun Myat, added "monasteries in Myanmar attract the attention of Western tourists as they are rich in culture.  But there often orphanages closely linked to the temples and the children are at risk .

"Some tourists take interest in children at these places because they want to exploit them."

According to Project Childhood Prevention Pillar by World Vision survey, tourists frequently witness child exploitation, or abuse, during their travels in the Mekong Region most of it related to a tourism driven economy.

The tourist perspective survey showed 57.1% of 316 participants indicated that they had witnessed situations involving exploitation or abuse of children, while travelling in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

85% of the survey participants reported being approached by young people selling souvenirs and 81.2% being approached by children or youth (under the age of 18) who were begging.

Many survey participants also reported seeing children collecting rubbish (49%), working in restaurants or hotels (48.5%), and acting as street performers (38%).

In addition, 28.8% of respondents indicated that they thought a combination of all of these exploitative behaviours was either deemed normal by locals, or local residents (including local authorities) turned a blind eye to them.

53.2% of participants said they did not purchased goods or services from children and 78.7% cited that they did not give money to a begging child or young people.

Moreover, 49.5% felt they had some sort of responsibility for local children and youth when travelling.

Only 19.5% of survey respondents felt they had enough information to protect local children and youth encountered in public places.

84.8% said they would like to know more about how to protect children and prevent exploitation in the region.

The survey was conducted online in English from May to June 2012 and recruited via Intrepid Travel, an Australian-based travel company.

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http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/unicef-warns-of-child-abuse/