A sex worker. A child sex worker.

Hello! In this blog post, I will discuss the various factors that push young girls into becoming involved in the sex trade. Before we move on, I want to clarify something. Although the majority of child prostitutes in Thailand are young girls, young boys are also trafficked into this industry. This is important to keep in mind.

 I want to share my views on child prostitution and encourage you to share yours as well. But first, let's explore the reasons as to why this issue is so prevalent in Thailand.

The blinding lights of Bangkok’s red-light district, the illegal exchange of money, the fake smile of a pimp, and the rough hands of customers. You are not alone in thinking why young girls accept this lifestyle. Illegal immigrants make up a large percentage of the people living in the poor villages of Thailand. These people have no ID cards and as a result, their children cannot attend school. The boys of the household farm the rocky land. Young girls also help with household chores up until a certain age. Unfortunately for these girls, the security of a family and a home often ends at age 10 or 11. Pimps from the city visit the rural areas of Thailand promising families of a glamorous lifestyle for their little girls. They speak of foreigners who will pay triple for a young virgin rather than an older woman. This makes me absolutely sick. A child is a child. There are not toys or objects and do not deserve to be treated like this. In my opinion, I believe no child is a "prostitute". They are forced into this work by their parents, pimps, or for fear of no alternatives. Click here to read about a former child prostitute's experiences. 


The parents, struggling to eat one meal a day, agree to send their daughter(s) to the city to work. At such a young age, the girls do not know what any of this means. All they know is that they are helping their family in some way. But, we have heard this story before, haven't we? Poverty is prevalent in many countries. So what makes Thailand's child prostitution rates substantially higher than other countries? 

Immemorial Thai customs show that prostitution is regarded as a way of life in Thai culture. Christian churches and Buddhist temples remain inactive in this matter, taking the position of  “Hear no evil; See no evil; Speak no evil”. Click here to read more about this stance. 

                                               

If the government and religious organizations in Thailand are refusing to recognize this issue, it is up to us to take action. I am deeply passionate about this subject and hope that you will join me in raising awareness.