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Child sex tourism offences in the Pacific |
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Memorandum of Understanding On 18 December, 1998, Fiji and Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to combat child sexual abuse, and to make it easier for police to crack down on child abusers exploiting children in the Pacific islands. This is seen as a very important and necessary bi-lateral strategy to prevent local child sex abuse and child sex tourism. Similar MOU’s between Asian and Pacific countries is required to effectively curb this growing problem. Australian committed to trail for Fiji child sex offences Mr Robert Marlow, 51, of Melbourne, Australia, has been committed to stand trial for allegedly sexually abusing children in Fiji. The committal hearing was held over 7 days at Melbourne Magistrates Court and included expert testimony by four Fijian boys brought to Australia for the hearing, and further testimony via video link up with child and police witnesses in Fiji. Marlow had originally been charged with 30 offences under the Child Sex Tourism provisions of the Commonwealth Crimes Act of 1914. However, at the conclusion of the committal hearing the magistrate ordered a number of the charges to be dropped. Marlow’s trial before a jury will commence on 10 May 1999. The Victorian is the ninth Australian to be prosecuted under the Crimes (Child Sex Tourism) Act, which was introduced in 1994 to combat the sexual abuse of children overseas by Australians. He is the first person in the world charged with offences against children in the Pacific under extra-territorial legislation. Twenty-four countries have adopted child sex tourism legislation. |
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Preventing commercial sexual exploitation of Pacific children |
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This case study on Fiji was presented by Shamima Ali at the End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking (ECPAT) Conference which was held in Suva in June, 1998. The conference was attended by over 90 delegates from the Pacific region, including several Pacific Women's Network Against Violence Against Women members. The purpose of the Conference was to discuss strategies to address the growing concern of child prostitution, trafficking and pornography in the Pacific. Background Although no national studies have been conducted, it would not be incorrect to assume that child sexual abuse is as prevalent in Fiji as it is anywhere else in the world. The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) has provided a crisis counselling service for women and children who are survivors of physical, sexual and emotional violence, since we opened our doors in 1984. Fiji Women's Crisis Centre statistics show that a total of 153 child abuse cases were seen by counsellors from Suva, Ba, Lautoka and Labasa from 1993 to May 1998. Of this, 103 cases involved sexual abuse and 50 were cases of physical abuse. Analysis of FWCC statistics shows that 3896 of sexual abusers were either biological fathers, grandfathers or stepfathers. 2396 the abusers were relatives and 32% were either family friends, neighbours, teachers, priests or boyfriends. Only 796 of the abusers were strangers. 59% of these cases were reported to the police. |
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All children are special and deserve to be happy and safe. If anyone does anything to hurt you then it is important that you tell an adult person that you trust so that they can make whoever is hurting you, STOP. Here are some of the things that you can do to protect yourself. 1. Before I go anywhere, I always check FIRST with my parents or the person in charge. I tell them where I am going, how I will get there, who will be going with me, and when I'll be back. 2. I ask my parents before getting into a car or leaving with anyone - even someone I know. I check first before changing plans or accepting money, gifts or drugs without my parents' knowledge. 3. It is safer for me to be with other people when going places or playing outside. 4. I shout "NO" if someone tries to touch me in ways that make me feel frightened, uncomfortable or confused. Then I go and tell a grown up I trust what happened. 5. I know IT IS NOT MY FAULT if someone touches me in a way that it is not OK. I don't have to keep secrets about those touches. 6. I trust my feelings and talk to grown-ups about problems that are too big for me to handle on my own. A lot of people care about me and will listen and believe me. I am not alone. 7. It is never too late to ask for help. I can keep asking until I get the help I need. 8. I am a special person, and I deserve to feel safe. MY RULES ARE
Check first Do things as a group Say "NO", and then go and tell Listen to my feelings, and talk with grown-ups I trust about my problems and concerns. |
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