Many people down under have been on a tropical holiday somewhere in the islands. Whether it's Rarotonga, Fiji, or a host of other destinations, we've either been there, or trawled through hundreds of Facebook posts of people who have.
Today's availability of cheap flights and holiday packages has made an island getaway much more accessible than in our parents' day. The only decision really is whether to take the three star economy package, or shell out for five star luxuries. Snorkelling? Jet Ski? A daily massage? Yes please!
A really popular choice these days is Bali. Some people go there to relax and unwind, to surf, or to drink and party. Others go to sightsee and play the tourist—just make sure your holiday insurance covers you on scooters! The biggest fear in most people's minds is unwittingly becoming a drug mule, or being involved in a terrorist attack. But there's an even darker Bali lurking below the surface.
Some tourists aren't in Bali for the beaches, clubs, markets, monkeys and temples. Some are there just for sex: holiday sex.
Or more precisely, a child sex slave.
Sex tourism and child sex slavery is a massive problem in Bali, lurking darkly beneath the vibrant tourist industry. It is suspected that tens of thousands of children in Indonesia are currently victims of sex trafficking and, according to a 2010 report by UNICEF, approximately 30 per cent of commercial sex workers are children.
The Indonesian government has been lagging behind other South East Asian countries in protecting its children from sex trafficking, according to the US Department of State 2015 Trafficking in Persons report.
A number of convicted paedophiles have been tracked visiting Bali, and Australian police suspect that many more overseas have been paying for photography and video footage. Local authorities in Bali have yet to admit there's a problem and some believe this is an attempt to protect the 'paradise' image presented to tourists (Sydney Morning Herald).
This problem is too big
Before you switch off thinking, 'this problem is too big for little old me', take a moment to consider what you can do to help.
A number of not-for-profit organisations in Indonesia have banded together to fight for the safety of Balinese children. Bali Life, YWAM, ECPAT Indonesia and Gerasa have joined forces and launched DarkBali.
DarkBali is aiming to educate young adults like you and me on what is lurking in the Balinese shadows, so we can consider the effect our tourism has on the island. They've launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of sex tourism, child sex trafficking and slavery in Bali under the hashtag #DarkBaliNoMore. Check it out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
If you're visiting Bali any time soon, here are a few tips from the DarkBali website:
- Consider how your holiday to Bali impacts the island. Choose to have an ethical holiday by only staying at accommodation and using tourist services that abide by The Code.
- Encourage your travel agent to learn more about sex trafficking in Bali and ask them to inform tourists before they arrive for their holiday.
- Learn how to interact with street children while you're in Bali.
Educate yourself and help spread the word
Have a read of the resources and reports at DarkBali.org and share it around. Encourage your friends, family and anyone you see on social media who is going to Bali to visit DarkBali.org and ensure they are not inadvertently supporting child sex slavery.
There are plenty of fantastic reasons to have a tropical holiday, but an even better reason to make it an ethical one. When the tropical bliss has come to an end and you're boarding your plane home, ensure you are leaving Bali better than you found it.
#DarkBaliNoMore
Claire Debrois grew up in Feilding, New Zealand, and holds a communications degree in public relations from Massey University. She lives with her husband in Wellington and works in account management for a web design company. She enjoys keeping fit and active, and is a field engineer in the Army Reserves.
Claire Debrois' previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/claire-debrois.html
