Child Sex Tourism in Nepal

Tourism is the primary source of foreign exchange in most countries around the globe. Individuals tour different nations for diverse reasons with the primary goal being interacting with other people. Nepal has a relatively small geographic area of 143,000 square kilometres and a population of approximately 29 million. The country is in southern Asia and has Nepali as its official language despite the presence of numerous dialects and ethnic groups. Nepal’s beauty and culture have attracted numerous tourists from different regions of the globe (Arai and Goto, 2017, p.467). The nation treasures its snow-capped mountains, where tourists can come and conduct many activities, such as mountaineering and sightseeing. Other notable tourist engagements in Nepal’s natural sceneries include white water rafting and trekking. Additionally, Nepal has a rich culture that is sharply distinct from those of other countries in the region. The state has numerous ancient architectures that act as a magnet for tourists.

Despite the undebatable significance of tourism to Nepal’s economy, a worrying trend of child sex tourism has emerged in the past few years. Joffres et al. (2008, p.22) note that the sexual exploitation and the abuse of underage children is a worldwide occurrence that is common in most countries in Asia. Millions of kids in Nepal live below the poverty line and strive to engage in any activities that enable them to afford basic needs such as food and clothing. The high influx of tourists and poverty in Nepal have subjected the young generation to sexual abuse.

Background

Various NGOs such as Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN) and Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) have carried out many studies to explore child sex tourism. This phenomenon persists in Nepal (CWIN, 2003, p.32). The studies’ principal focus has been examining causes, impacts, and mitigation of antisocial behaviour. However, the current literature mainly discusses the reasons and the implications of child sex tourism living behind other crucial concepts of the subject.

The key gap in the various studies reviewed is that they fail to suggest strategies that can be applied to mitigate the current situation in Nepal. The existent research base does not also highlight the various anti-trafficking and sex tourism laws that would warrant the arrest and the charging of paedophiles in Nepal. However, previous studies provide a substantial discussion of the current Nepalese child sex tourism situation (Brysk, 2011, p.267; Manson, 2015, p.53; Joffres et al., 2008, p. 24; Gurung et al., 2016, p. 24).

The flaws in existing research regarding child sex tourism in Nepal are the main driving force behind the situational analysis. The audiences for the situational analysis are the Nepalese government, the Nepalese community, the anti-child sex and trafficking agencies (Raksha Nepal) and international humanitarian groups (ECPAT International and UNICEF Nepal). The main purpose of the situation analysis is to explore the present problem and provide various strategies to mitigate the cases of child sex tourism in Nepal. The principal questions for the research include the following: what factors contribute to child sex tourism in Nepal? Who are the main actors of child sex tourism? What efforts has the Nepalese government made to combat child sex tourism in the country?

Nepal’s tourism industry is slightly young as the country recorded its first tourists in 1962, following the dawn of democracy a few years after WWII (Arai and Goto, 2017, p.467). However, the nation has been continually engaging with the international community, allowing citizens of other states to visit their region. Tourism first emerged as a key activity that was aimed at liberating the economy. The government was continually encouraging private-public partnerships in the sector to promote globalization and the state's recognition in the global arena. According to Arai and Goto (2017, p.468), most tourists visiting Nepal hail from European nations, Australia, and the United States and are mainly attracted to trekking and mountaineering activities in the country. A small percentage of these foreign visitors visit the nation to explore its rich culture. As a result, Nepal’s GDP has significantly increased due to the high tourist influx. The significance of Arai and Goto’s article is its contribution to knowledge regarding the overall structure and nature of Nepal’s tourism sector. However, the explanations given by the authors are sketchy.

According to Brysk (2011, p.259), child sex tourism in Nepal is not a new occurrence. Many scholars and humanitarian groups have dedicated resources to unearthing the current trends, causes, implications, and ways of mitigating cases of child sex tourism. Recent statistics indicate that more than three million children work not only in the tourism industry but also in other sectors of the economy (Datta, 2005, p.50). Millions of adolescents migrate to urban regions of the country every year in search of better livelihoods. On average, more than 200,000 girls and women are trafficked to the cities to engage in commercial sexual activities every year, with thousands of children being transferred outside the state for similar purposes (Datta, 2005, p.54). More than one-third of marriages in Nepal are held with teenagers under 14 years old (Sekine et al., 2014). However, Brysk (2011, p.267) notes that due to the poverty situations in which the children live, sexual exploitation stays unreported.

Sankar (2004, p.1), states that sex tourism is widespread in most developing and developed countries in Southern and Eastern Asia such as Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Nepal, China, and India. However, the onslaught of paedophiles has been witnessed in India and Nepal. Sankar (2004, p.24) foresees that most Nepalese children would not be safe from such exploitations if the current trends persist. Nepal has become a preferred region for paedophiles due to the absence of laws that deter paedophilia (Sankar, 2004, p 71). Sen’s article provides substantial knowledge regarding the phenomenon above in Nepal but does not explore the contributory factors of child sex tourism in the country in full.

Methodology

The research methodology employed in conducting the situational analysis is a systematic review of the literature exploring child sex tourism with an explicit focus on Nepal. The systematic review involves a critical evaluation or assessment of the available research on child sex tourism in Nepal to draw a single conclusion. The approach involved descriptions of the findings of various studies on child sex tourism. According to Mulrow (1994, p.598), the systematic review involves incorporating multiple empirical articles to examine a given situation. The scholarly articles and other literature were used to analyse the current situation of child sex tourism in Nepal. The studies were also used to analyse the research questions.

The rationale for using systematic reviews is to help integrate the present information on child sex tourism and provide data required for rational decision-making. The approach also helps establish the consistency of scientific findings and whether they can be applied across settings and populations. Finally, systematic reviews of the available literature would prevent bias and enhance the accuracy and reliability of conclusions.

Findings

The analysis's key findings were that child sex tourism was widespread not only in Nepal but also in other Southern Asian nations. The current trends of sex tourism are alarming, and little action is being taken by the relevant authorities to mitigate the situation. Poverty was found to be the main contributor to child sex tourism, with many children being lured into illegal activity using gifts and money (Brysk, 2011, p.267; Manson, 2015, p.53). Child sex tourism also occurs due to a lack of formal education, sexualised tourism promotion, profiling of gender, as well as gender violence and constructs in the country (Gurung et al., 2016, p.24). Similarly, organised crime, such as the unwavering existence of sex tourism, migration of children to tourist areas, child trafficking, and prostitution, as well as the perception that tourism raises the reputation in the society, enhances child sex tourism in the nation (Joffres et al., 2008, p.24). Other aspects that promote the rise in Nepal’s child sex tourism include the powerless position of youngsters in the Nepalese community, ignorance, and corruption. The main perpetrators of child sex tourism are both the tourists and the child and sex traffickers who work under the protection of the government. The analysis also found that millions of children migrate to urban regions of the country every year in search of better livelihoods, thus subjecting themselves to child sex tourism (Datta, 2005, p.50). The analysis established that Nepalese government policy actions, such as the creation of strict legal policies and imprisonment of sex offenders, have not been successful in eliminating child sex tourism. The government needs to take other measures to prevent vice in society.

Discussions

According to Christiansen (2015, p.1), tourism is crucial as it provides individuals with the opportunity to experience different cultures that are unparalleled to modern life and social interaction. Promoting the tourism sector has been the economic liberation agenda of most nations. Christiansen (2015, p.32) also notes that the presence of tourists in different regions has led to foreign direct investment, which results in immense economic growth and the creation of jobs for locals. However, tourism and sex exploitation seem to be intertwined. Christiansen (2015, p.65) uses Nepal as a case study and notes that despite the presence of different sceneries and cultures that tourists can use as sources of entertainment in the country, most foreigners touring the region enjoy exploiting young children.

Child sex tourism is persistent in Nepal because of the increased gender violence and constructs in the nation. Child sex tourism has also increased due to organised crimes such as the migration of children to tourism centres, prostitution, promotion of sexualised tourism, and trafficking of children in the country (Simkhada 236; Gurung et al., p. 24). Manson (2015, p.53) notes that the powerless position of youngsters in the Nepalese community makes them susceptible to commercial sex. Tourists visiting this region of the globe can also demand children as objects of sex and engage in child molestation. Simkhada et al. (2010, p.46) state that despite protection from sexual exploitation being the critical function of the Nepalese police force, the authorities are corrupt and fail to take action on most occasions after receiving bribes from paedophiles. Another contributory factor of Nepalese child sex tourism is the lack of formal education for young women (Simkhada, 2008, p.237). Most cultures in Nepal treasure male children over their female counterparts. The presence of male chauvinism in Nepal has witnessed a one-sided education whereby male children dominate classrooms. The insufficient formal education among females makes them unaware of their rights, which subjects them to sex tourism.

According to Joffres et al. (2008, p.22), Nepal’s child sex tourism is manifested due to ignorance regarding the social and psychological implications of sexual abuse of kids of both genders. The custodians of morality in the Nepalese community have often failed to address the issue due to the assumption that their views would not make a difference. Consequently, child sex tourism remains unreported and unpunished. The second factor addressed by Joffres et al. (2008, p.24) is that children engage in sex tourism due to the aspirations of better lives. Tourists from foreign destinations come with numerous promises and financial resources that they use to lure youngsters. As a result, kids become the objects of the sex trade because of their desires for better living. Joffres et al. (2008, p.32) finalise their article by noting that only international intervention would aid in the mitigation of Nepal’s child sex tourism situation.

Territo and Kirkham (2010, p.251) consider that sex tourism in Nepal occurs as a result of corrupt government officials and the police department. While child trafficking remains one of the critical activities resulting in child sex tourism in the country, limited or no action has been taken against renowned child traffickers in the region. Instead, politicians act in collaboration with individuals involved in sex and child trafficking and benefit from the trade. According to Territo and Kirkham (2010, p.264), politicians, lawmakers, and high-level decision-makers are the primary protectors of sex traffickers.

Lastly, the perceived gain in social status by engaging in tourism has moved many Nepalese children to sex tourism and made their parents support it. Tourists, in most developing regions, are regarded as wealthy and generous to individuals needing social interaction and sexual satisfaction. Consequently, residents promote sex tourism more than foreigners visiting the country. Christiansen (2015, p.72) also notes that the locals, with their established mindsets, have made the mitigation of the use of children as sexual tourism objects impossible, along with supporting the non-implementation of welfare programmes and policies. 
Based on the findings of the situational analysis, the Nepalese government should focus on eradicating poverty in Nepal by establishing a national strategic plan to provide livelihood options to women and children in Nepal. The livelihood options could include increasing employment for women. The government can also reduce poverty by subsidising industries that provide food and clothing. The Nepalese government and other humanitarian agencies need to create awareness among kids through the promotion of education to prevent increased child sex tourism. The Nepalese government should enforce strong laws to fight against child sex tourism in Nepal. There should be adequate implementation of legislation that helps in detecting and disciplining sex offenders in a way that prevents a repetition of the same act.

The situational analysis had various limitations. First, most of the literature has limited statistical powers to support their findings. Therefore, the lack of sufficient statistical evidence renders their use in this analysis less effective. Secondly, the report used only available literature review without taking into account the limitations of the findings of these studies. Therefore, future research should focus on assessing present child sex tourism in Nepal and the different laws that the Nepalese government should implement to eliminate child sex tourism and paedophilia. This statistical analysis’ unique value defines the contributory factors of Nepal’s child sex tourism, its main perpetrators, and the insufficient measures applied by the Nepalese government in mitigating the current situation.

References

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Christiansen, L.V., 2015. An exploratory case study on child sex tourism in a Pacific country: Samoa.

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Territo, L. and Kirkham, G., 2010. International sex trafficking of women & children: understanding the global epidemic. Flushing, NY: Looseleaf Law Publications.