INDONESIA
15,000 child sex workers in Riau
Jakarta Post
AnNGO activist disclosed at a seminar on child prostitution in Batamthat some 15,000 girls under the age of 18 on the RiauIslands were sex workers, raising concern that child trafficking could be widespread. According to the Humanity and Health Partner Foundation (YMKK) there are a total of 30,000 sex workersoperating on the islands, half of which are minors.
15,000 child sex workers in Riau
Fadli, Batam
A non-governmental organization (NGO) activist disclosed on Wednesday that some 15,000 girls under the age of 18 on the RiauIslands were sex workers.
The number was half of the total of 30,000 sex workers operating on the islands, raising concern that child trafficking could be widespread, said Lola Shirin T. Wagner, the chairwoman of the Batam-based Humanity and Health Partner Foundation (YMKK).
"Some 30 to 60 percent of the sex workers operating in Batam, Tanjung Pinang and Tanjung Balai Karimun are children," said Lola at a seminar on child prostitution in Batam.
The three cities in question are major cities on RiauIslands.
Also present at the one day seminar was Seto Mulyadi, the chairman of the National Commission for Children's Protection.
According to Lola, the number of child prostitutes in Batam is high when compared to the national figure. There are some 150,000 sex workers operating nationwide currently, 40,000 of whom are children.
Lola explained that the high number of child prostitutes on the islands was due to the growing sex industry here. Many foreigners, such as Malaysians and Singaporeans, spent their weekends on the islands, and many of them visited purely for commercial sex, she said.
The high demand for commercial sex had led to the development of the industry. Local girls saw prostitution as a quick and easy way to make money, and irresponsible parties exploited children, Lola said.
Lola said there were two facets of the industry on the islands: First, a syndicate "bought" the children from within the islands, or from Java island and sold them to local pimps. And second, the syndicate supplied male teenagers or children to pedophiles.
In order to end the practice, Lola demanded that the government take stern measures. She called on all parties on the islands, including bell boys, tour guides and security personnel to help stop child prostitution. "They should not give tourists seeking sex with children information, including the whereabouts of child sex workers in the city," she said.