A Situational Analysis of Child Sex Tourism in Nepal (Kathmandu ...

etter lives. Every-year around 5,000-7,000 women and girls are trafficked to different
Indian cities for commercial sexual exploitation and thousands of other children are
trafficked inside and outside the country for different labour exploitation. 34% of
marriages are held with children below 14 years of age.
Though the cases of abuse are frequently reported (especially rape cases), the majority of
the cases of child sex abuse go unreported due to social stigmatisation and inaction of law
enforcing agencies. Similarly, sex abuse of boys is completely ignored and our society
has not realised the magnitude of sexual abuse and its effect in boys. In addition, there is
little awareness and acknowledgement of different non-contact forms of child sex abuse
apart from rape. Preliminary findings of the research on Child Sex Abuse carried out in
the Kathmandu Valley by CWIN and Save the Children Norway has revealed some
serious facts. Almost 20% of the children from both the schools and living in at-risk
conditions face sexual abuse of one type or another.
Commercial sexual exploitation of children has become a critical issue in Nepali society.
There are several incidences of exposing a child to pornography, using children for
pornography and prostitution, use of children in oral sex, sodomy, of both boys and girls
by both Nepalese and foreigners. Boys living on the streets are much more vulnerable to
commercial sexual exploitation. At least 5 per cent street boys report that they are
sexually abused/used by foreign paedophiles operating in Kathmandu. Apart from this,
the increasing numbers of dance and cabin restaurants, which employ underage girl, are
found to be exploiting the girls. During routine police raids at these places these young
girls often face harassment from the police as well. Additional harm is caused by the
media, which publishes pictures of these young girls in police custody, portraying them
as prostitutes. According to a research report of ILO carried out with 440 commercial sex
workers in Kathmandu, 30 per cent are children. Most of them work in restaurants.
1.7. Child Sex Tourism (CST)
Tourism as an experience of social interaction and experiencing different cultures is
unparalleled in modern life. Today, tourism promotion and development are part of the
profit making mechanism. However, tourism development in certain countries appears to
be direct connected with the presence of extensive sex industries in these countries.
Though exact figures are not available, the growth of tourism has been identified as a
contributing factor to growth of sexual exploitation of children. This intolerable form of
exploitation of children has found its way into the tourism market.
Tourism is not the sole cause for the proliferation of child prostitution but it is
increasingly playing a role in the same. In general it can be claimed that tourism is a
significant factor in societies where prostitution is intentionally used as an integral part of
the package of tourist attraction and where a choice has been made by the authorities to
deliberately turn a blind eye to what is happening.
Tourism not only brings hard currency for the development of the country but in addition
it also promotes sex tourism for the high number of tourists visiting developing nations.
4 A Situational Analysis of Child Sex Tourism in Nepal