Engl101.03 Waters
10/31/08
Multi-Modal Essay
Child prostitution is a very real issue plaguing our world today. It is children, ages 5 to 18, partaking in sexual acts for payment, forced or not. It thrives typically in Cambodia,particularly the shanty town of Svay Pak. It influences all the people in the world, particularly in first world countries, where customers of foul practice are highly publicized. Imagine a child you are close to, anywhere from the age of five years and older, working as a sex slave. No child should have to undergo this torture; it is a crime against humanity and must be stopped.
This distinct form of slavery is not limited to little girls, but boys as well; and it has drastic emotional and physical effects. Many of these children do not choose prostitution; they are lured into traveling to a foreign place under the lie of working as a waitress or in a factory. Poverty forces children to work at an early age, to support themselves and their family. They learn differently, upon arrival, however, as many are either forced immediately into work, or the price of their virginity is bargained over a period of a few days to a couple weeks while the child is trapped in a cage within the brothel.
Accessed 10/20/08 BBC.com. This image fully displays how children, or these Cambodian children become shells of what they once were once their virginity is taken. Reentering into the mainstream society, these girls are seen as dirty creatures that don't respect themselves. They don't respect themselves because they were willing participants, but because they were forced.Typically, the prisoners are told that it is they that owe the debt to the pimps for food and shelter, and thus, must work willingly as prostitutes. Working willingly ensures that the prostitutes will not run away. Because of the stigma of all prostitutes being willing and dirty creatures, many families would not take back their children if they were to escape and come back home. Many do not have that choice, as kidnap by pimps and those who sell to pimps is not uncommon, so visas and identification that is necessary to enter their homeland renders it inaccessible. These children are trapped in a cycle of torture and entrapment. And when I accessed H.R. 1356, the Freedom from Sexual Trafficking Act of 1999
it mentioned that many times, the prostitutes, or children, are more severely punished than the actual perpetrators, or the brothel owners and affiliates. More like slave drivers.
Prostitution has long been identified as histories oldest profession. Pedophilia and sodomy has long been recorded in ancient texts, such as the bible. It has been around for a very long time, yet proactive measures taken against such acts has lowered the amount of participants of such. Child pornography being illegal in most countries, as Gary Glitter himself learned first hand.
The British Glam-rock star Gary Glitter was charged numerous times with child molestation in many parts of the world. Being a foreigner and celebrity, he is a highly publicized example of what happens each day to child sex slaves.
Cambodian officials are doing little solve this everyday crisis. Many policemen are pimps themselves and stand to make a large profit from tourists and Cambodian customers alike. Brothels are shut down, and as little as 3 days later re opened for business. Almost no one is jailed for partaking in this practice.However, another view point are from those who use the prostitutes. These people remain anonymous, as it is still a crime, even in Cambodia to partake in such actions, although it is pretty much ignored as the police are corrupt and consistently paid off. In Cambodia Shuts Down Red-Light district, it is mentioned that many men pay top dollar to fornicate with a virgin, believing that it will cure them of AIDs, no doubt acquired from previous interactions with prostitutes, as the spread of AIDs is becoming a pertinent issue in Cambodia and other countries with the strong presence of brothels. This speaks of not only the stupidity of the customers, but also the hopelessness of the situation speaking to the young women shanghied by deceit to work. The movie, Sacrafice, by Ellen Bruno, is a powerful glimpse into the lives of girls who were forced into prostitution, one even lived in a house with a roof made out of grass.
Some believe that because of the Cambodian Civil War, a generation of people without morals were raised, resulting in child prostitution as a greater boom than it ever was in the past.
Alas, much is being done to stop this evil practice, amendments and hearing in the U.S government as well as international organizations. The BBC and MSNBC are making great strides in introducing child prostitution to the general public, the media is making this issue more well known to the public, and thus more proactive anti-slavery support is uncovered. Much is being done to help end child prostitution, but it is far from being solved. There are many organizations built to help the situation, humantrafficking.org, the salvation army, U.S Department of Justice among others.
This video, accessed on Youtube 10/20/08 From: marchinvietnam
Added: December 22, 2006. It is promoted against child prostitution and even provides links to learn more about being proactive in ending it. This video demonstrates how widespread this occurance "Support businesses fighting child sex tourism. Visit www.thecode.org to learn more."
In H.R. 1365 Freedom from Sexual Trafficking Act of 1999, serial number 106-62, states "In order to deter international sexual trafficking and to bring its perpetrators to justice, nations including the United States must recognize that sexual trafficking is a grave offense...and must act on this recognition by prescribing appropriate punishment ...by giving the highest priority to its investigation and prosecution..."(pp.13 Section 6 line 13) The overall mentality of what needs to be done is clear, that it must be severely discouraged, and thus stopped. Not only that, but safe houses are also established for rescued prostitutes, where they learn trade skills and are counseled through their troubled minds. These children do have futures, and these safe houses reinforce that fact. Otherwise, many continue feeling like dirt.
Child prostitution is a terrible leach of society. It caters to the selfish needs to pedophiles and the greedy alike. Also, it takes the importance of childhood away for so many innocents. This issue is on our doorstep, and if we don’t take measures to stop this horror, it will kill in more ways than one.
Works Cited:
Rhetorical Analysis A).
The Movie, Sacrafice, a film by Ellen Bruno VHS 20027 C.2 from Washington State University, Pullman Media Materials and Reserves, seemed fairly credible. Interviews were conducted to three different girls about their experiences in prostitution, many focusing on Burmese woman moving to Thailand to ultimately become prostitutes. These women were lied to and deceived, or forced into the profession by poverty. One of the girls lived in a house where grass was used as roofing material. Another was a single mother in need of money to support her infant son. The other was simply promised work for money,washing dishes was what what she was led to believe. The movie portrayed how girls are not happy with themselves, having sex with men. One of the girls was kidnapped at the young age of 12 and raped. This demonstrates how many are forced into this profession,especially children who have no idea what they are getting themselves into. It changes the notion of people that are prostitutes for fun.
Rhetorical Analysis B).
In H.R. 1365 Freedom from Sexual Trafficking Act of 1999, Markup before the subcommittee on international relations house of representatives, on August 4, 1999 serial number 106-62, states "In order to deter international sexual trafficking and to bring its perpetrators to justice, nations including the United States must recognize that sexual trafficking is a grave offense...and must act on this recognition by prescribing appropriate punishment ...by giving the highest priority to its investigation and prosecution..."(pp.13 Section 6 line 13) The overall mentality of what needs to be done is clear, that it must be severely discouraged, and thus stopped.
Rhetorical Analysis C).
Cambodia shuts down red light district, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2686963.stm, is held by the BBC which is credible considering the BBC is commonly known as being reputable in it's research as it is such a big organization.
Rhetorical Analysis D).
This video, accessed on Youtube 10/20/08 From: marchinvietnam
Added: December 22, 2006. It is promoted against child prostitution and even provides links to learn more about being proactive in ending it. This video demonstrates how widespread this occurance "Support businesses fighting child sex tourism. Visit www.thecode.org to learn more." It is reputable because it shows tourism industries fighting this practice.
Rhetorical Analysis E). This video,Cambodia: CHILD SEX SLAVERY (2of2) [EN&KH],http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyIpOCeYSIw accessed on youtube.com 10/30/08 from : AhmekKhmer is showing how brutalized these children become and how few safe houses there are.
F). Thursday, 23 January, 2003.BBC. Friday, 10 October 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2686963.stm>
G).An overall summary of the happenings of Cambodia and the explanations of such are well explained in this article Accessed 10/21/08 http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012537 Maclean's Magazine online Child Sex-Trade Thriving in Cambodia by Maclean's November 24, 2003 Author Susan McClelland.
H).United States. Congress. House. Committee on International Relations. Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.
Title H.R. 1356, the Freedom from Sexual Trafficking Act of 1999
it mentioned that many times, the prostitutes, or children, are more severely punished than the actual perpetrators, or the brothel owners and affiliates. More like slave drivers
I). Gary Glitter Back from Bangkok, accessed 11/3/08 on Youtube.com johnsmoonfruit2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0FWSE4Ntw0
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