UNICEF LAUNCHES SHOCKING STUDY ON CHILD SEX TOURISM

UNCLAS NAIROBI 005304 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, AND DRL/IL DEPT ALSO PASS TO USTR FOR LEWIS KARESH DEPT ALSO PASS TO DEPT OF LABOR FOR SUDHA HALEY, MICHAL MURPHY AND TINA MCCARTER SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM KCRM ECON PGOV KE SUBJECT: UNICEF LAUNCHES SHOCKING STUDY ON CHILD SEX TOURISM Ref: NAIROBI 4070 ¶1. Summary: On December 19, 2006, UNICEF and the Ministry of Home Affairs launched their long-awaited joint research report on child sex tourism (CST) in four of Kenya's main beach resorts. Surveys and research indicate that up to 30% of all 12-18 year old girls living in these areas are involved in casual sex work. Two to three thousand girls and boys are involved in full-time, year-round commercial sex in the coastal resorts, but up to 45% are from other provinces. 38% of the children's clients were Kenyan, with Italian, German and Swiss tourists accounting for another 44%. More than 75% of surveyed locals either accepted CST as normal or actively approved of it. Vice President and Minister of Home Affairs Awori squarely accepted the research as real and factual, and acknowledged the failure of police and communities to enforce Kenya's laws. The VP called for wider participation in the ECPAT tourism industry Code of Conduct to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation and called on originating countries to monitor websites marketing Kenya as a CST destination. UNICEF and the GOK will continue to brief Coast Province communities on the report, more CST research is being done in Kenya's other major towns, and stakeholders will work to develop policies and programs to change Kenyan attitudes and behavior to protect Kenya's children. End summary. Yes, CST on the Coast Is as Bad as Previewed -------------- ¶2. Horrific bits and pieces of UNICEF's 2005-06 research report on child sex tourism (CST) have been leaking out of briefings into the press for more than six months, prompting protests and disbelief. The whole report was finally launched by UNICEF and the Ministry of Home Affairs to a large media audience on December 19, and is as bad as previewed. Lead researcher C. Sarah Jones described the methodology of the research project, noting that it sought to map and determine the extent of CST, and obtain qualitative data to enable the GOK and stakeholders to develop more effective programs and interventions. She summarized the findings detailed in the executive summary cited in para 9. Although the report lists Kenyans as representing 38% of the clients, presenters consistently cited the figure as 41%, which the report lists as the "cumulative percent." USA/American were only 1.3 cumulative percent of clients. UNICEF Director: Horror and Hope -------------- ¶3. UNICEF Kenya Director Heimo Laakonen opened by noting that the report's details of child abuse and the failure of parents to protect children ("atrocities") were too terrible to allow UNICEF's usual practice of including children in the event. When UNICEF commissioned the report in 2005, it did not anticipate these findings. Although Italian, German and Swiss tourists were the leading foreign clients, almost every nation in the world was represented. Although the problem was monumental, Laakonen noted that his experience in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic showed it is possible to reduce demand for and supply of child prostitutes. Laakonen called for intensive sensitization for tourists, arrest, trial and punishment in Kenya for perpetrators, support from tourist origin countries, and a strong child protection campaign in Kenya. ¶4. Laakonen described how, as in other countries, the large hotels and chains with a strong self-interest in clean tourism, were the first to sign up and are fully supporting the ECPAT tourism industry Code of Conduct. He hoped the owners of the numerous, unregistered guest houses and private villas, plus bars and other establishments would follow suit. VP Awori Accepts Results and Calls for Action -------------- ¶5. Vice President and Minister of Home Affairs Awori squarely accepted the research as a real and factual description of a growing problem that must be publicly confronted. While unemployment, poverty and HIV/AIDS make children vulnerable, the terrible situation showed the deterioration of Kenyan morals and traditional African family values. While tourism poses risks to children, the high proportion of Kenyan clients and widespread acceptance of CST showed the lack of support and protection for children in Kenyan society. ("We must condemn ourselves. Let us Kenyans change.") Awori acknowledged the failure of police and communities to enforce Kenya's laws, and to sometimes treat exploited children as criminals rather than victims. In a clear call to end impunity for tourists, the VP urged police and communities to implement the Children's Act and other laws consistently, and not to protect child exploiters. ¶6. VP Awori urged wider hospitality industry participation in the ECPAT tourism industry Code of Conduct to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation. Unfortunately, the VP misquoted the number of hotels signed up to the Code as 300 when it is closer to 30, but he did admit that a majority of guest houses, lodgings, bars and clubs had not yet joined. The VP called on originating countries to share any reports they receive of their citizens engaging in CST in Kenya, and to monitor websites and other campaigns marketing Kenya as a CST destination. Awori dedicated the GOK to combating CST, and welcomed UNICEF's support in developing long-term strategies for child protection and social/behavioral changes. Awori regretted that Parliament was in recess and no MPs were present. He urged the attending media to widely publicize the report and help prevent the spread of child prostitution in Kenya. Next Steps -------------- ¶7. Awori stated the GOK was reviewing the Children's Act and considering making the penalties much more severe. He said the GOK would expand a Social Safety Net Cash Transfer Pilot Scheme to help vulnerable families avoid sending their children to work. He said that Kenyan Immigration would require all visitors to provide their home address (and Kenyan destinations?),implying this would deter CST or help authorities track pedophiles. Laakonen announced that the relevant Parliamentary Committee has already invited UNICEF to present its findings. Children Department Director Hussein and Laakonen said the research team previously briefed participants and stakeholders in the four resort areas, and they would share the information widely with the population of Coast Province. UNICEF and the Home Ministry's Children's Department plan events specifically aimed at youth. CST research projects are underway in other Kenyan cities and will expand the knowledge base. Laakonen predicted they will find CST common in other cities, relying mainly on Kenyan clients. Comment -------------- ¶8. Although leaks had already previewed the report's key findings, they provoked some denial, blame of foreign tourists, and questioning whether to maintain the tourism industry. We hope the detailed explanation of the thorough research procedures behind the shameful statistics, plus the VP's forthright acceptance of Kenya's share of responsibility, will restrict those reactions. Embassy will continue to work closely with GOK agencies, police, international organizations, NGOs, and the tourism-hospitality industry and advocate expanded participation in the Code of Conduct and more effective implementation of Kenya's laws. ¶9. Extent and Effect of Sex Tourism and Sexual Exploitation of Children on the Kenyan Coast: Executive Summary -------------- -------------- The commercial sexual exploitation of children in coastal areas exposed in this report is shocking violation of their rights, and a reflection of the profound risk potentially faced by all children in Kenya. Some ten to fifteen thousand girls living in coastal areas of Malindi, Mombasa, Kalifi and Diani are involved in casual sex work - up to 30% of all 12-18 year olds living in these areas. A further two to three thousand girls and boys are involved in full-time year round commercial activity. Many full-time child sex workers have migrated to the coast from other parts of the country, and have often been inaugurated into sex work before they arrive. The sexual exploitation of children is not limited to coastal areas or to tourists, but can be found in communities across Kenya. About one in ten children involved in sex work are initiated before they reach puberty. The level and acceptance of sexual exploitation of children in coastal areas puts all children in Kenya at risk. It reflects a fundamental breakdown and corruption of families and communities, and a failure of the authorities to provide protection to children and to prosecute those responsible for promoting and profiting from child sex work. Tourists that exploit children are at the centre of a ring of corruption that involves many from the local community. Child sex workers are often compelled to deliver sexual services to Kenyans - beach boys, bar staff, waiters, and others - in order to access tourists. During the low tourist season, the local market for child sex workers keeps the system going. The sexual exploitation of children therefore thrives because of the complicity of a broad section of the local community. While some children are driven into transactional sex because of poverty, the high level of acceptance of child sex work in coastal communities makes it relatively easy for children to drift into casual sex in exchange for no more than extra pocket money. Many younger girls reported that they begin in local bars to gain experience and money to allow them to buy clothes, accessories and hairstyles that will enable access to the tourist market. Overall, 38% of the clients of child sex workers consulted for the survey were Kenyan. Tourists exploiting children for sex came from many countries, with the most common offenders coming from Italy (18%),Germany (14%) and Switzerland (12%). Coastal communities are among the poorest in Kenya. The lucrative tourism industry has failed to deliver significant benefits and employment for host communities, and this has exacerbated and increased the vulnerability of children to sexual exploitation. Child sex workers are not criminals. They are the victims of sexual exploitation. It is vital that the adult perpetrators and not the victims themselves are prosecuted for these crimes. At the same time, it must be recognized that the use of raids or the exclusion of children from certain public areas as the central plank of a reduction program risks driving the activity underground, leading to greater marginalisation, increased risk of exploitation and even less protection. The Kenyan government, civil society, the tourist industry, the broader private sector must urgently come together to prevent and end the sexual exploitation of children. The countries whose nationals are exploiting Kenyan children also have a key role to play in preventing these heinous crimes. The study presents the following key findings: - 1. Magnitude The study identified two distinct groups of children engaged in sex work: those who work as informal sex workers on a casual and ad hoc basis and those who engage in sex work as a full-time income generating activity. Children involved in sex work and sex tourism are not a homogeneous group. As many as 45% of children engaged in sex work with tourists are from outside coast province with large numbers coming from Eastern, Central and Western provinces. Sex workers include children whose basic needs cannot be met by family for reasons of unemployment, under-employment and loss of one or both parents. However, over 50% of child sex workers have parents in employment and are still attending school in the resort areas but would like to earn additional pocket money. However, as they operate within their own home communities they are usually discreet and careful not to be seen by older members of their communities. The population of children between 12 and 18 years of age in the districts under study, from education and KDHS survey data, is estimated to be approximately 100 -120,000 of which 60-65,000 are girls. Of that number, it is estimated that 40 - 50,000 live in and around the resort areas. From the various sources of data and triangulation, a conservative assessment of the involvement of girls in sex work and sex tourism is between 25% - 30%. In numerical terms that represents a figure of 10,000-15,000. However, the number of children engaging in sex tourism as a full-time year round commercial activity is much lower at a figure of 2,000 - 3,000. - 2. Vulnerability of children involved in Child Sex Tourism (CST) More than half the girls engaged in full-time commercial sex work are living apart from family, parents and guardians. Of that group, the majority are living in communities of sex workers and sharing the rental of rooms between 4-6 girls. Of child sex workers from resort areas, 40% had lost one or both parents. Widespread acceptance and approval of the practice of CST (Key informants were drawn mostly from the tourism industry (hair/massage salon keepers, curio sellers, waiters, bar staff, beach boys etc.) but also including government staff, members of NGOs, parents, students, community leaders, and representatives of faith based organizations.) More than 75% of key informants either accepted the practice of CST as normal and tolerable or actively approved of it. Only 20% saw the behavior as immoral. Approval of the practice was associated with it bringing wealth and advantage to individual girls and their families and generating income that would benefit various sectors of the community. 59% of key informants thought boys' involvement in sex tourism as beach boys, procurers and middlemen or engaging in sex work with tourists was acceptable. - 3. Early initiation into transactional sex All data sources indicated that more than 45% of girls involved in prostitution and child sex tourism began transactional sex for cash or for goods and favors between the ages of 12 and 13 years. More than 10% of girls begin transactional sex below 12 years of age. - 4. Child sex tourism is intricately and closely linked to child prostitution 39% of the clients of child sex workers in the study were Kenyan men. Child sex workers provide sexual services to Kenyan hotel workers and beach boys in order to gain access to tourists. The existence of a local demand for child sex workers sustains the sex tourist market during low seasons or tourist market fluctuations. - 5. Economics of child sex tourism Child sex tourism is highly lucrative and drives the informal and the commercial sex trade. The disparity between a family's capacity to generate goods and income and what can be earned in sex work feeds the domestic culture which encourages children to seek out tourists Average prices paid by tourists in each age category: Below age 12 - 1,000 -2000KSH Ages 12-16 - 1,000 -2000KSH Ages 16-18 - 2000 - 5,000KSH Price paid for anal intercourse ranges between 5,000 - 10,000KSH The daily rate of casual labor for a child is between 80 -120 KSh and for an adult 300-500 KSh - 6. Clients and risk behavior In the study sites, Italians, Germans and Swiss men rank as the top three clients of under-age female sex workers at 18%, 14% and 12% respectively. These three nationalities were significantly more active with under age girls than other nationalities. Ugandans and Tanzanians ranked fifth and sixth in the client group. British and Saudi Arabian men ranked seventh and eighth. Anal sex represented 12% of all sex acts but 30% of all sex acts with Italian men. No condom was used during 32% of all penetrative sex acts and 42% of all acts of anal sex. Kenyans, Italians and Germans ranked as having the lowest condom use. Recommendations The Kenyan government, civil society, the tourist industry and communities themselves must recognize that child prostitution is a widespread in Kenya. Swift, effective action backed by financial and human resources is urgently needed to ensure the protection of children and prosecution of adult perpetrators. Combating child sex tourism requires commitment of the community and overt condemnation and disapproval of the behavior itself and not merely of the actors There must be a major shift in thinking and values away from punishing the child and his or her family and instead holding the people who engage in transactional sex with minors as accountable and responsible. This needs to be the starting point for developing a plan of action and for all communication campaigns. Because of the large number of children coming to the coast from other parts of the country to engage in sex work with tourists, Child Sex Tourism needs to be understood as a national and not just a local problem confined to the Coast province. Legal instruments must be reviewed to ensure third parties to the sexual exploitation of minors can be held responsible and accountable and the courts be given the power to enact costly penalties e.g. closing establishments, increased monitoring of long-term foreign tourists etc. The active involvement and commitment from Treasury, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministries of Education and Health are required for any reduction measures to carry weight and be sustainable. Particular efforts need to be addressed to training and accountability of police officers. The Government and its partners need to consider how and in what ways poverty reduction programs can be stepped up in the areas which surround the key tourist strips, e.g.: target children and youth, creation of vocational training opportunities, greater role for youth in economic planning, increase availability of secondary school places, shifting training institutions such as Utalii and certain Government of Kenya offices from Nairobi to Coast Province, long-term funded school feeding programs, etc. The Government should play a more active role in the global tourism arena including participating in global conferences on child sex tourism and paedophilia reviewing policies and strategic plans for tourism in Kenya to encourage the kinds of tourists and tourism that respects and supports local customs and values, and marketing Kenya to that specific market RANNEBERGER