’40 percent of male foreign tourists on sex tours’ - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines
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MANILA, #Philippines - At least 40 percent of male foreign tourists in the country, including Americans, come for sexual tourism, US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said yesterday.
“I estimate that maybe up to 40 percent of foreign men who come here come for sexual tourism and that is unacceptable.
And any of them engaged in things that violate the law whether they are American or other foreigner should be prosecuted. That is against human values,” Thomas said during a roundtable discussion on human trafficking organized by the Supreme Court, Philippine Judicial Academy in partnership with the Court of Appeals and US Department of Justice Criminal Division.
Thomas said the US wants the Philippines to refine and strengthen its anti-trafficking law to ensure the conviction of foreigners involved in the crime.
He said he also told President Aquino and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that the US government is resolved to prosecute any American involved in cybersex and human trafficking.
Thomas said the US provided over $6.6 million to the Philippines for its anti-trafficking program and training.
“I think that the conviction rate improved in the last year and there were record number of 25 convictions… But this is a large country of many provinces and some provinces, some towns no prosecutions, no arrests,” Thomas said.
“And that is unacceptable especially when you have places where you have shelters for victims so you know there is a lot of trafficking going on. It is not up to us to dictate, we just ask that the courts and the legislature work together to strengthen gaps in it so that people and those who commit this crime are successfully prosecuted,” he added.