Archbishop: Goa emerging as hub for child sex tourism

Goa is turning to be a leading destination for child sex tourism, warned the archbishop of the state.

Speaking at a two-day seminar on child sex abuse, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao said Goa was emerging as a paedophile paradise and urged the government to take necessary steps to combat sex-based exploitation.

Archbishop Ferrao observed that child sex tourism was on rise especially after Thailand's crackdown on the industry.

"Thailand was considered to be the main hub for child sex industry till recently. However, the pressure on the government by international agencies has started making a difference," said Ferrao.

The Archbishop warned that Goa now presented as an alternative for those looking for fresh locations in South-East Asia.

The seminar, entitled, "Protecting Children in Tourism: Role of the Goa Children's Act 2003," was organized by the Roman Catholic Church-Aligned Centre for Responsible Tourism.

Currently, India is home to about 20 per cent of the world's children, and it has the highest number of sexually-abused children.

There are some 400,000 to 500,000 children in forced prostitution in India, according to estimates by
UNICEF and ECPAT International. Many of the abused are migrant workers children and local children from the coastal areas.

In 2009, about 2.5 million tourists visited Goa. Sex tourists mainly come from Western Europe, Australia and North America. Incidentally, Goa has the highest levels of trafficking of women and children compared to other states.

Archbishop Ferrao said if efforts were not taken, the onslaught of child sex tourism will spell "doom for our nation".

He pointed the need for a comprehensive legislation, both at state and national levels.

He said it was essential to have a law that will declare "zero tolerance" for child sexual abuse.

The pressure on the government earlier resulted in the Goa Children's Act 2003. According to the act, Rs 100,000 and the sentence of one to three years might be slapped for sexual assault and incest. In case of serious sexual assault the fine may go up to Rs 200,000 and the sentence becomes seven to 10 years' jail for the guilty.

But despite the legislation, experts say children continue to be raped or molested.