Sex Tourism in the Philippines

PHILIPPINES

Case study: Philippines as a sex tourism destination

1.5.2014

Student: Veronika Jeřichová

Student’s number: 21303894

Content

Introduction 2

Background to sex tourism in The Philippines 2

The vulnerable stakeholders 2

Human trafficking 3

Prostitution 3

Child sex tourism 4

Social impacts 4

Economic impacts 6

Policy 6

Environmental impacts 7

Discussion and Recommendations 8

Conclusion 9

Recommendation 9

Implementation 9

Reference List 10

Appendices 11

Introduction

This case study discusses sex tourism in the Republic of the Philippines located in Southeast Asia. It evaluates the social, economic and environmental impacts of sex tourism in the Philippines and makes reference to vulnerable stakeholders such as women and children. It also explores ethical issues associated with the development of sex tourism and proposes potential responses and recommendations to reduce, if not eliminate, the causes of the problems identified and discussed.

Background to sex tourism in The Philippines

According to Hardy (cited in O’Connel, Davidson 1998, p. 75) sex tourism might be defined as a broad term to describe the activities of individuals who, whether or not they set out with this intention, use their economic power to attain powers of sexual command over local women, men and/or children while travelling for leisure purposes.

Lim Lean (1999, p. 100) states, that there is no record of prostitution in the pre-Spanish Philippines, when women enjoyed relative equality with men (until 1521). In the 16th century Catholicism and a patriarchal culture were imposed. Lean (1999, cited in Camagay, 1988, p. 255) that in the 19th century prostitution as an occupation for women in Manila was tolerated by the authorities. Nevertheless prostitution had to be hidden in the shadows.

Lean (1999, cited in Dery, 1991, p. 486) indicates that the outbreak of the Philippine-American War in 1899 and subsequent American rule led to...