2011-07-11 15:28:41

Goa becoming child-sex trade hub, says bishop


(July 11, 2011) The archbishop of western India’s Goa state has said that the state is becoming a child sex trade hub after Thailand and called for a legislation to effectively tackle the problem. Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao said Thailand, which is considered to be the capital of child-sex tourism, cracked down on the illegal industry under pressure from international child protection organizations. And now the sex-trade lords are looking for fresh locations in Southeast Asia. The prelate said that India, especially Goa touted as a holiday destination, is increasingly seen as the most viable place for such a shift of operations. He was speaking at a two-day seminar at Panaji, on Saturday, on child sex abuse, co-organised by the Catholic Church-aligned Centre for Responsible Tourism. Archbishop Ferrao said that India has the dubious distinction of having the largest number of sexually-abused children in the world, and he urged the nation to guard against the oncoming “onslaught of child-sex tourism.” Goa Children’s Act, for the protection of children’s rights, must be made more stringent, he said adding a legislation is required that will declare zero tolerance for child sexual abuse, particularly for tourism-related crimes against children in India.








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