Illicit Supply and Demand: Child Sex Exploitation in Southeast Asia

Sexual exploitation of children is a growing problem, frequently involving international participants. Members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are some of the hot spots for child sex tourism and sex trafficking. Foreign patrons of such illicit trades travel from as far as North America, where law enforcement is more consistent and penalties more serious. Worldwide, domestic and international laws have been established to protect children in theory, but in reality the industries proliferate, including with the assistance of law enforcement personnel. This report reviews international law and compares domestic laws from ten ASEAN States alongside those from the United States and Canada. Social, psychological, and public health issues related to sex trades are also examined. A holistic international approach to an ancient problem is introduced.