Cook: Lending a hand to protect children

Welcome for Crackdown on Sex Tourists

A spokeswoman for Barnardo's said the action programme signed by the Foreign Secretary Robin Cook with the Philippine government was a "step in the right direction".

"The exploitation is global, with Vietnam and Cambodia also being a target for paedophiles," stressed the spokeswoman.

"This agreement will only displace some of the exploitation because men will only go to another country," she added.

Barnardos also expressed concern that it would "not help that much" in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children on the streets or in the home.

"We know from Barnardo's work that men who go abroad to sexually abuse children are likely to abuse in this country as well," said the spokeswoman.

Children at risk in the Philippines

Father Shay Cullen, an active campaigner against sex tourism in the Philippines, warned that corruption in the country would make the deal difficult to implement.

"At national level we do have a strong commitment from certain areas of national government. The department of justice, the department of social welfare are really committed to this," he said.

"However, the local government is usually the problem because the local autonomy of government is where the commercial sex industry is thriving. Many of the local government officials, they themselves have vested interests in the sex industry," he stressed.

"So at the moment unless there is change there at that level, I can't see big change in the future," warned Father Cullen.

Another children's charity, Save the Children, said it "really supported" the agreement.

"Up to last year Britons could have got away with it with impunity," said Tracey McGeagh, spokeswoman for the charity. "This agreement is a really positive thing."

Innocence in danger from sex tourists

But the charity said it had some misgivings about possible loopholes. It fears the agreement and the Sex Offenders' Act to be introduced on Monday will not address problems with registration of offenders.

"The agreement is the first step," said Helen Veitch, campaign coordinator for the Philippine-based international pressure group ECPAT, End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking.

"The Philippines and British agreement could be a model for other countries to follow to protect all children. But we are worried that the legislation will not cover registration in the UK of Britons convicted for child sex offences abroad," she said.

Greater Police Cooperation

Under the terms of the agreement announced by Mr Cook, a four-week pioneering training programme will be arranged by detectives from the Durham police force. They would teach a team of Philippine instructors in techniques for investigating child abuse cases.

Christian Aid, which has campaigned for more cooperation between police forces, said it was "delighted" the British and Philippine governments were to adopt such a policy.

"For far too long countries have not taken enough responsibility for the behaviour of their citizens overseas," said Eileen Maybin, Christian Aid spokeswoman for the Asia region.

The charity has written a report, An Abuse of Innocence, highlighting the link between child prostitution and poverty, and gave evidence during the trial of Michael Clarke, which led to his conviction.

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Barnardos
Save the Children
Christian Aid