§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries to which she has offered help and advice about combating sex tourism; and if she will make a statement. [139460]
§ Clare ShortCombating sex tourism is one aspect of a wider set of issues in which poor people—particularly young women and children—are vulnerable to the interests of the sex industry, national and international trafficking and associated illegal activities. It is an international problem which requires internationally coordinated action. Much of our focus is on reducing the vulnerability of young people being recruited into this industry. With other Government Departments, we are supporting efforts of regional and international agencies to combat trafficking, strengthen law enforcement and improve the mechanisms for prosecution of those who commit sex offences abroad.
Most recently in May 2000, a meeting of Law Enforcement agencies in Seoul followed up the ASEM Child Welfare Experts' recommendations from October 1998. China has offered to host the next ASEM Child Welfare Experts' Meeting. There is wide regional support for this initiative.
We very recently reviewed the ILO programmes we support in Northern Thailand as part of an initiative to combat trafficking in the Mekong basin of South East Asia. Good progress has been made in establishing offices, staff and ground level activities in Laos, Cambodia, China as well as Thailand.