Andrea Vilchez
Since the early 1960s, Thailand has been a well known participant in the sex trafficking industry. With its capital, Bangkok, coming to be known as “Asia’s Brothel”, Thailand specializes in the trafficking of women, children, and homosexuals. The country’s development into a hotspot for sex trafficking came into part due to several social, economic, and political changes over the last 50 years. The growth of Thai sex trafficking is not only due to the economic meltdown in and around the country, but also in part to the cultural attitudes supporting the sex trade, as well as the legal policies that fail to suppress it.
In recent years, the Asian continent and its inhabiting countries have entered into an economic crisis that has left its natives in a state of poverty. With soaring unemployment rates and lower living standards, Asian countries have found themselves turning to the sex trade in hopes of boosting their economies. Thailand, in particular, has established itself as a world leader in the industry, with high economic interests in the trade. According to a Mighty Mic article on the issue in Thailand, nearly 50% to 60% of the Thai government’s annual revenue is accredited to the country’s participation in sex trafficking. The problem first began in the mid-20th century, with a new industrialized mentality coming into play. As cities overtook a once rural Thailand, numerous natives who’d once earned livings as farmers found themselves displaced and out of work. The Thai economy plummeted and turned to cheap labor in order to survive. Sex trafficking became the most practical solution, and women who sought to provide for their families soon found themselves being coerced into prostitution. While children and homosexuals were not involved in the early stages of sex trafficking, as Thailand continued to be engulfed in poverty, their introduction into the trade developed into a vital branch of the sex trafficking network. The sex trade boosted Thailand’s economy, and its newly developed wealth became an attracting force for the impoverished neighboring countries.
Thailand’s economic situation was not the only factor in its growing involvement in sex trafficking. The sex trade provided the kingdom with an economic advantage over bordering countries. The revenue acquired from this industry attracted immigrants from Laos, Cambodia, and Burma. However, Thailand did not receive its foreigners with open arms and denied the immigrants and legal status. The Burmese in particular, were exposed to mistreatment by the Thai government and viewed as illegal, were denied any rights. Accompanied by the hill-tribe ethnic group of northern Thailand, the Burmese immigrants were viewed as illegally residing in the country, and thus presented with a “great risk factor” for sex trafficking (Arnold and Bertone, Addressing the Sex Trade in Thailand). Thailand’s “illegal” residents provided for the high demand in exploitative sexual services, and became a part of Thailand’s network of sex trafficking. While laws do exist against such solicitation, the men and women forced into the trade remain unprotected as the Thai government loosely enforces these laws. Inclusively, many cases of government involvement in the Thai sex trafficking have been recently discovered. Policemen and government officials have not only proved to be participants in the trade but have also been found to possess ownership of trafficked women, children, and homosexuals.
Although sex trafficking in Thailand is opposed by many non-governmental organizations, prostitution is widely accepted in the society. Prostitution is often viewed as a part of the social fabric by Thai natives (Thailand Journal of Law and Policy). In Thai society, it is not unusual for daughters to be put in charge of providing for their families. However, in the case that they are unable to do so, their relatives often sell them into brothels in exchange for financial compensation. To a certain extent, the Thai religion also supports the country’s practice of women sex trafficking. Buddhism teaches that women are lesser than men, and are the embodiment of sexual temptation. While women are looked down upon, men are permitted to fulfill all their sexual urges, and often encouraged to do so through prostitution. Often, men request the services of younger women. Being a “valuable commodity”, youth is a primary criterion when selecting a prostitute. As the age standard decreases, children are found at a high demand in the sex trade. Homosexuality, which has also become widely accepted in Thailand, proves to be a growing trend in sex trafficking.
Thailand’s involvement in the sex trafficking industry has faced significant growth since its beginnings early in 1965. Women, children, and homosexuals—either Thai natives or immigrants into the country—have found themselves coerced into prostitution over the last half-century, making Thailand one of the largest sex trafficking industries around the globe. While Asia’s economic situation played a major part in the growth of sex trafficking in Thailand, political and social factors have also provided for the country’s expanding sex trade. Thailand’s lack of enforcement of the laws against sex trafficking and the government’s corrupt participation in the trade, along with the societal views on prostitution have all provided for the growth in Thai sex trafficking.
Arnold, Christina, and Andrea M. Bertone. "Addressing the Sex Trade in Thailand." Prevent Human Trafficking. Prevent Human Trafficking, 2007. Web. 7 May 2011. http://preventhumantrafficking.org/storage/article-downloads/AddressingSexTrade.pdf.
Crawford, Christa Foster. "Cultural, Economic, and Legal Factors Underlying Trafficking in Thailand and Their Impact on Women and Girls from Burma." Cardozo Journal of Law & Gender Summer (2006). Thailand Journal of Law and Policy. Thailand Law Forum. Web. 6 May 2011. http://www.thailawforum.com/articles/Trafficking-in-Thailand%20.html.
"Sex Trafficking in Thailand." Mighty Mic 2011. Mighty Mic, 2010. Web. 6 May 2011. http://www.mightymicucla.org/thailand/.
Tim Sakow
ReplyDeleteNot only has sex trafficking adults become a large issue, but the involvement of children have definitely become more prominent. The increase in demand for children is satisfied by the poor needy families of the Thai Kingdom as well as the bordering nations. Its sad that the nation has now come to terms with the fact that sex trafficking and prostitution is one of it's most valuable commodities. After the past two decades it has been blown up and accepted by the people and even the government.
Anthony Greenfield
ReplyDeleteThis post touches on many great aspects about sex trafficking, but there are other factors that should be included. Human trafficking is deeply rooted in cheap labor, especially with the use of children. ALthough women are sexually exploited, they also work long hours for minimal pay, as are children. As stated, poverty is the leading cause of this, but it fails to mention that the depreciation of the Thai baht in the 1980s and the 1990s was another main factor. All in all, the lack of government interference should be reprimanded.
Andrea Vilchez
ReplyDeleteRE: Tim Sakow
It is true that children, in more recent years, have come to play a major role in the sex trafficking industry. The trade has presented a higher demand for young men and women, a fact which the original post only briefly highlights. However, this is not intended to undermine the importance of child trafficking. Being a problem of equal magnitude to adult trafficking, the trade of children as sex slaves is only a recent trend. The practice is however popular, and quite commonly found in ordinary Thai society. Due to the economic crisis, families are, as you stated, selling their own children to settle their debts and acquire currency to provide for their livings. The high demand for children prostitutes is also being fulfilled by immigrants from neighboring poverty-stricken countries, including Burma. Thailand's acceptance of these practices is horrific and the fact that the government is doing nothing to stop this is unacceptable. It is however, their prioritization of wealth that allows for these atrocities to occur within the country.
Jennifer Elovitz
ReplyDeleteJust because policemen and government officials have proved to be participants in the sex trade and have also been found to possess ownership of trafficked women, children, and homosexuals, does not mean that prostitution is "widely accepted" in Thai society. While it may be widely practiced, it is often practiced in secret, especially by governmental organizations. The government constantly tries to hide the fact that they do indeed accept and encourage prostition, which is why they passed the Anti-Prostitution Law. In reality, though, they certainly do partake in sex trafficking and prostitution while trying to make it seem like they are ending (rather than aiding) this problem. It is extremely disturbing to learn that youth is a primary criterion when selecting a prostitute. Children should be raised and cared for with love, not sold into the sex trafficking or child labor industry. The government needs to open their eyes to the corruption within themselves to see that they are stooping so low as to get not only women, but also children, involved in these unsafe situations just to gain wealth.
Andrea Vilchez
ReplyDeleteRE: Anthony Greenfield
Cheap labor and the declined value of the Thai baht are certainly contributing factors to the growth of sex trafficking in Thailand. While the demand for cheap labor is only briefly mentioned, it does indeed play a major role in the expansion of the Thai sex market. With the declining economy of the 1960s, Thailand turned to cheap labor in an attempt to revive their failing markets, just as the United States did during the time of the Great Depression. Without hesitation, Thailand turned to the exploitation of children, women, and homosexuals, just as the U.S. turned to the exploitation of immigrants in the 1930s. While the declined value of the Thai baht is not addressed in the post above, it is without a doubt partly responsible for the growth of the sex trade, as it contributed to the country’s state of poverty.
RE: Jennifer Elovitz
When it is said that prostitution is widely accepted in Thailand, it is meant that the Thai society recognizes that prostitution is a part of their social fabric. This is not intended to say that Thailand accepts prostitution as moral or okay in any sense, but rather that they accept the fact that sex trafficking has become a significant part of their lives, providing for a considerable portion of their economy. The government does attempt to conceal their acceptance and encouragement of prostitution, through the passing of laws such as the Anti-Trafficking Law, as well as the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act. However, legislations such as the Entertainment Places Act of 1966 protect the right of licensed locations to practice prostitution, although the wording in which it is stated attempts to sugarcoat the situation by not saying so directly. Inclusively, in 2003, the Ministry of Justice held a conference to discuss the possible legalization of prostitution, due to its recognized effect on society, both economically and politically (Goodspeed, Thailand Touts Sex Tax). The government is indeed allowing its corruption to interfere with the protection of the basic rights of the women, children, and homosexuals being trafficked throughout the country. The fact that they have allowed the situation to escalate to such a high precipice is outrageous.
Goodspeed, Peter. "Thailand Touts Sex Tax as Huge Revenue Stream: Government Debates Legalizing a Notorious and Profitable Trade." Welcome to the Wonderful World of Walnet! Commercial Sex Information Service, 10 Jan. 2004. Web. 09 May 2011. .
Kate Molinari
ReplyDeleteYour post has brought new things to light for me. I had no idea that there was such extensive involvement from the government and law enforcers. It does not surprise me that the government makes money from sex trafficking; one of the causes of the problem, as Tim has said, is corruption within government and further corruption of the laws. But the fact that half of the government's paycheck comes from the trade--this is madness! This also proves a very crucial point about Thai society. The prostitution industry has become a regular part of Thai society. I wouldn't go as far to say that it is accepted since females who join the industry are often considered indecent (http://www.sexwork.com/Thailand/modernculture.html). However, the sex industry of Thailand is far from unacceptable, and remains a path of life for those in search of employment. It is this regularity that has even permeated Thai government. The fact that many within law enforcement and government actively break laws against the sex trade shows just how deep Thai societal standards run when it comes to the normalcy of prostitution.
Andrea Vilchez
ReplyDeleteRE: Kate Molinari
The Thai government is deeply involved in prostitution, with both economic and political interests. Government officials are not only involved with soliciting prostitutes, but also receive large bribes to look away from the injustices. Additionally, several government offices receive payment to guarantee election votes. Where they show their "opposition" to sex trafficking in enacting laws and other legislations set to suppress the sex market, they often fail to enforce these laws. While prostitution is not moralized in Thai society, it is accepted as a part of their inner workings, particularly for its contributions to the country's economy. However, the trafficking of women, children, and homosexuals in Thailand is not only unacceptable but in no way justified.