Pattaya Daily News

Australia, the 9^th of June 2010 [PDN]: Following a marked increase in Aussie citizens travelling to notorious “child-sex” safe havens, the Australian government recently change the law in order to persecute crimes against children more heavily if committed on foreign soil. The measures include up to 25-years imprisonment if found guilty of committing a child sex offence in a foreign country.

In addition to an alteration of the laws and an increase in cooperation between the Australia and renowned “hotspots” of the illegal trade, the national government has also undertaken a widespread “Anti Sex Tourism” campaign, placing advertisements in all national newspapers. The adverts are designed at warning people about the dangers of committing sex-crimes overseas and the severe punishments that will be handed out if you are apprehended.

Australian Charity organisations have hailed the governments tough stance on “sex tourism” and child sex crimes as “a step in the right direction.” A “Bravehearts” child protection charity spokeswoman recently revealed; “What we know is that it is increasingly difficult for sex offenders to get away with their crimes in Australia because of the increased level of awareness. So it is an option – and a very attractive option – for child-sex offenders to actually travel overseas to places where children are not so protected.

Although in support of the governments renewed stance on preventing sex tourism and child sex offences, various groups have come out in the support of a total ban on overseas flight by convicted child sex offends. This call comes after British convicted child-sex offender, Craig Meehan, had been found to be organising a trip to visit Thailand where he planned to stay with his internet dating girlfriend and her 4-year-old niece and nephew.

Countries in Asia, the Pacific Islands, South America and Eastern European are notorious for facilitating organised crime gangs specifically aimed at soliciting “abhorrent behaviour” against children. The Australian government has promised to vehemently fight the sexual exploitation of children wherever it occurs, stating that they want to combat the “increasingly depraved and corrupt activities” of child-sex tourists.

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