‘If I had a choice, I would quit’ – the unheard cry of exploited boy sex workers

‘If I had a choice, I would quit’ – the unheard cry of exploited boy sex workers

It’s a cliché story retold and repeated in literature and television dramas: a vulnerable pre-teen violently hit by a stepfather, is forced to leave the house and go onto the street with no means or skills to survive with dignity, and ends up a lonely prostitute in the big city. If you think that’s just how the life of some girls unfold, it’s only half the story.

A certain boy was unusually skinny for his age. He came from a vulnerable background and experienced domestic violence. Terrible circumstances forced him out of home and school and sent him to an orphanage. Lacking proper guidance, he was lured into alcohol and drugs, got severely punished, and decided to go to the city all by himself. Now homeless, he had no other choice but to work as a sex worker for survival. This real-life story did not happen in a faraway poverty-stricken land: he’s from Chiang Mai. And he was just 12.

This boy is among 20 youths, aged 15-24 working as sex workers in Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. They were interviewed as part of the recently released: “Global Initiative to Explore the Sexual Exploitation of Boys — The Thailand Report,” undertaken by ECPAT International in collaboration with the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ).

Mr. Mark Kavenagh

“These boys from the SOGIE community aren’t viewed as sexually exploited. Due to gender bias, people think they want sex for their own needs,” said Mr. Mark Kavenagh, Head of Research and Policy, ECPAT International.

SOGIE is an acronym for sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. This more inclusive term has been used to describe the LGBT community. It is now being introduced in many legal doctrines and UN documents.

Ms. Santanee Ditsayabut

Ms. Santanee Ditsayabut, Director, Secretariat Office of Nitivajra Institute, Office of the Attorney General of Thailand, added: “Gender misconceptions mean that boys are perceived with less care than girls concerning sex problems. Meanwhile, the degree of violence against boys is much worse.”

Pol. Capt. Khemachart Prakyhongmanee

Pol. Capt. Khemachart Prakyhongmanee, Deputy Director, Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime, Department of Special Investigation (DSI), who has over 15 years’ experience of child sex abuse cases, further explained the severity of the problem: “DSI information shows that the number of sexually harassed boys is higher than girls. Cases are usually accompanied by the online sale of boy pornography. Furthermore, the findings of the report match our data that indicates that boys find it harder than girls to tell their stories for fear of humiliation and bullying. It’s a sad truth that parents of the victims in all DSI cases do not know about their boys’ sexual exploitation experiences. These boys are also prone to trauma and drug abuse.”

Therefore, it is no surprise that 18 out of 20 interviewees want to leave sex work if there are other choices to feed their hungry mouths: “If I had a choice, I would quit,” they often say. The report also reveals that the majority of them started sex work early in life, as young as 12, for the exchange of accommodation, safety, or small sums of money. The main reasons that drove them to the job are poverty, domestic violence, and gender discrimination.

Dr. Phiset Sa-ardyen

Dr. Phiset Sa-ardyen, Executive Director, TIJ, says he believes that the report could create momentum toward more understanding about the problems facing young male sex workers in Thailand and pave the way for solutions: “The TIJ, as a promoter of change to enhance the rule of law, criminal justice systems, and crime prevention in Thailand and the region, finds the report enormously useful as it reveals the lesser-known vulnerability of boys, as well as sexual threats on online platforms, which can pose a great risk to children in the age of technology.”

Ms. Maia Mounsher

Ms. Maia Mounsher, Thailand Director, Urban Light Foundation Thailand, a foundation in Chiang Mai and partner in compiling the report, said: “Frequently, many adults such as parents, teachers and officers come to help these boys, but they don’t understand their needs and don’t have the right tools. A clear guideline based on insights from research can protect these boys before they are sexually harassed and exploited.”

Consequently, the solution to the sexual exploitation of boys necessitates tackling the root causes of poverty, domestic violence, and discrimination based on gender. Equal access to social services for men, women, and the SOGIE community, and more job opportunities and career training, are also necessary.

Moreover, Mr. Kavenagh stated that the report proposes to amend the law: “Nowadays, victims of sexual exploitation can still be charged with a criminal offense of involvement in prostitution while, in fact, they should be legally protected as victims. Moreover, Thailand has yet to have any law that prohibits online or live streaming of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation. Lastly, the statute of limitations for child sexual offenses should be extended beyond the current time limit of 15 years as there are many cases where a revelation of the truth is significantly delayed.”

Pol. Capt. Khemachart adds, “The urgent issue is that the Thai government does not have a central agency that deals specifically with sexual exploitation of boys. Thus, there is no database of victims which prompts duplication of work. Moreover, it would be beneficial to have more officials tasked with efficiently rescuing and protecting the boys as well as protocols for rehabilitation.”

The Global Initiative to Explore the Sexual Exploitation of Boys — The Thailand Report was compiled by ECPAT International and the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ). The collection of data was undertaken with the help of Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, Urban Light Foundation Thailand, SISTERS Foundation, CAREMAT, and V-power. The full report can be found at https://knowledge.tijthailand.org/en/publication/detail/global-boys-initiative-thailand#book. 


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