§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with other countries to offer help and advice in combating sexual tourism in their countries. [50706]
§ Clare ShortSex tourism is just one element of sexual exploitation. Social and economic conditions create an environment where poor or vulnerable people in particular are subject to sexual abuse and exploitation, and combating sex tourism is therefore part of the Department for International Development's (DFID) goal of eliminating poverty in poorer countries.
Commercial sexual exploitation of children is of particular concern to DFID. DFID funds non-government organisation projects in a number of countries, many of them in Asia, to address sexual exploitation of children.
DFID is involved in the preparations for the ASEM Child Welfare Experts Meeting, which takes place later this year, gathering representatives from ASEM member countries in London, to share experience in tackling sexual exploitation of children.
DFID is supporting the International Labour Organisations International Programme for Elimination of Child Labour in carrying out research on trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children.
The Global March against child labour brought the realities of child labour, including sexual exploitation of children, to many people and governments around the 395W world. Following the March, at the International Labour Conference, DFID took an active role in agreeing a draft international convention to immediately outlaw the worst forms of child labour; labour that maims, corrupts and kills children. Combating sex tourism is part of that.