Sex tourism a reality in Namibia

Sex tourism a reality in Namibia Child exploitation spreads along with foreign investment A new study has shed more light on the sexual exploitation of children, stating that sex tourism is on the rise in Africa. ELLANIE SMIT



The foreign investment made in manufacturing and construction by Chinese nationals in Namibia and other African countries is creating opportunities for child sexual exploitation.

A new study has shed light on the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism that has expanded across the globe and says that this type of “sex tourism” is on the rise in Africa. The report was conducted by ECPAT International, a global network of civil society organisations

The report describes sexual exploitation as a crime that is by its very nature secretive and hidden, which not only involves tourists but also business travellers, migrant and transient workers as well as ‘volunteer tourists’ intent on exploiting children, and also large numbers of domestic travellers.

The report says the worldwide growth of travel and tourism has led to more children than ever before are being affected, and no country is immune.

“New forms of travel have proliferated, such as tourism tied to volunteering (volunteer tourism) and peer-to-peer arrangements for accommodation. These have multiplied the opportunities and venues available to offenders and thus the risk to children,” the report states.

Advances in internet and mobile technology have also contributed to the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, allowing anonymity and hidden pathways for direct contact between offenders and victims.

With regard to Africa, the report says the exploitation of children in tourism is increasing on the continent.

Over the last couple of years there have been many reports that sex tourism is on the increase in Namibia, but little data is available.

Windhoek has been labelled as the major hub of sex tourism in Namibia, while Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Oshikango – the latter popular with Angolan sex tourists - have continued to support sex tourism.

Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi told Namibian Sun that sex tourism is most definitely occurring in Namibia, but it is difficult to determine whether it is increasing.

He referred to the fact that there is a ‘willing-buyer, willing-seller’ model which makes it more difficult to control.

Moreover, when tourists come to the country in their private capacity and without guides there is no control over what they do.

Kanguatjivi pointed out that prostitution is not legalised in Namibia, unlike other countries where more specific data can be gathered.

He referred to previous police raids on prostitutes and said there were definitely foreigners involved.

According to him businessmen travelling to Namibia may see the country as a lucrative market because of the exchange rate.

He said there was a lot of talk about truck drivers and sex workers, but it was difficult to label that as sex tourism or human trafficking.

According to a spokesperson for the tourism ministry, Romeo Muyunda, in Namibia this type of sexual exploitation has not yet reached concerning levels and is “minimal”.

“Tourists that come to Namibia do not engage in activities with under-aged children,” Muyunda said.

He said as far as he knew there had never been such a case reported to the ministry, but there could have been cases reported to the police.

“We appreciate that Namibia has managed to maintain these levels and we want to keep it that way.”

Asked whether sex tourism was perhaps just not reported, Muyunda said Namibians were “respectful of culture and did not indulge in such activities”.

He said it would be very difficult for a tourist to exploit a child in Namibia, because they would not go with strangers.

However, he urged families to inform the authorities if they knew of any unreported cases.

The ECPAT International report says in Africa sex tourism has historically been associated with North and West African countries but an influx of tourists seeking sex with children, including African travellers, is now being reported elsewhere in the region.

Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, The Gambia and Tanzania (Zanzibar) have been identified as major destinations for travelling child sex offenders.

According to the report, Chinese investment on the continent, for example, increased from less than US$100 million per year in the 1980s to $26 billion by the end of 2013.

“The bulk of this is in mining, finance, construction and manufacturing, and often requires the creation of services and infrastructure that provide opportunities for child sexual exploitation.”

The report says the region is seeing a surge in mobile data use and an increase of contraband phones with internet applications has made online access cheap and easily available, reportedly making pornography easily available to children.