Human Trafficking Watch

The UN published a report on the trafficking of children in South Asia (India). Naturally, this is more about the report than it is about actually stopping the trafficking itself. But I don’t want to take away from the report’s content, which is important:

Launching a report on Preventing and Responding to Child Trafficking in South Asia, UNICEFs Child protection specialist Lena Karlsson said, child trafficking is a neglected form of human trafficking as children risk being picked out as undocumented migrants, juvenile delinquents or unaccompanied minors.

Though the governments of South Asia have developed national plans of action and also adopted laws to criminalise trafficking, legal frameworks needs to be strengthened to further protect children from all forms of trafficking and to assist child victims with legal and psychological support, the report states.

South Asian children are being trafficked for various forms of sexual exploitation such as prostitution, sex tourism, child pornography, paedophilia and labour exploitation in agriculture and industries.

It’s easy to criticize the UN as a whole since its founding premise that all nations are equal is flawed. However, the UN publishes really well. The ability to write things up and present them to the world is a UN strength. Instead of playing “peace-keeper”, the UN can be rechartered as an international information clearinghouse, even better than the Federal Citizen Information Center in Pueblo, Colorado. As in the case of this report, the content is horrific. This is child slavery. This report is published and it goes on top of a stack of human trafficking reports. This little tidbit will ensure nothing will happen:

“The girls, mostly from Muslim families, tribal communities and scheduled castes, belonging to these south Indian districts, have become more confident and have started demanding their rights, including right to education and vocational training,” the report states. In Nepal, where children face threat of violence, abuse and exploitation, sensitisation programmes conducted by the para-legal committees with the assistance of UNICEF have raised awareness about risks, human rights and support structures among children and women, the report says.

Calling out the link between Islam and modern day slavery is more than any committee can handle diplomatically.  At least we will have a record of it somewhere.

British pop star, Gary Glitter, is roaming the world again after being release from a Vietnamese prison. He was convicted in Vietnam three years ago for molesting children and previously convicted in the UK for child porn possession. Glitter is the guy who wrote “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” that has become a sports anthem. It’s good to read the NFL banned his version of “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” from its games. The NFL and other organizations have substituted a cover version for Glitter’s version, however, and I’m not sure if that’s any different than playing his.

Various media have reported the guy still has millions and is seeking refuge in Asia. The British government renewed his passport in 2002 and the Daily Mail is reporting that as a blunder. However, 19 countries so far have refused him entry. Officials in Hong Kong put him back on a plane to Thailand where he was first refused entry. Countries that normally pander to sex tourism are avoiding a celebrity who inadvertently put a spotlight on the issue.

The Times is reporting that he will be shuffled back to England:

When he does arrive back in Heathrow the singer, whose real name is Paul Gadd, will be met by police and told that he was being placed on the sex offenders’ register.

He will join 30,000 people on the register and will be required to give police his name, date of birth, home address and national insurance number. He will be kept under the highest level of surveillance and be visited weekly by police and probation staff. If he breaks the terms of his registration he could face a prison sentence of up to five years.

I hope his celebrity keeps him in check. A pedophile with millions is dangerous and Glitter appears unrepentant.

I hate the way that people abuse good things for their evil purposes:

A Santa Barbara man is charged with advertising on Craigslist for a guide who would help him find children to have sex with in Thailand.

Michael Patrick Mahoney had his bond set at $100,000 Monday in federal court in Los Angeles. He was arrested Saturday by federal agents at Los Angeles International Airport after he boarded a flight for Bangkok. He was carrying children’s stuffed animals, Disneyland shirts and chocolates.

The 51-year-old faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of a child sex tourism charge.

The investigation into Mahoney began last week after immigration officials noticed his ad on the Craigslist Web site.

Officials say an undercover agent posed as a travel guide and sent an e-mail offering to arrange meetings with children.