Mission News: Children at Risk: One Perspective

by Al Meehan

Developing nations in need of capital have discovered tourism. Aided by western developers eager to cash in, countries have offered their natural resources of pristine beaches, mountain retreats and Shangri-La's to bring western dollars and attract industry. Some very negative consequences have resulted.

A number of Western tourists come not just to enjoy the beaches, but to exploit children for immoral purposes. Businesses featuring bars, massage parlors and dancing girls flourish, luring westerners to sample their wares. Unscrupulous nationals, fully aware of the financial potentials, actively recruit boys and girls from rural areas. They promise money these families would never otherwise realize. Poor rural families under economic strain let the children and young teens go. Broken families contribute to the pool of exploited children when they are abandoned or run away from abusive homes.

The children not only lose their dignity, virginity, and basic mental and spiritual development, but in most cases, end up with HIV/AIDS and are discarded for newer, more innocent victims. These end up on the street as drug addicts, desperate prostitutes and perpetrators of crime.

Fortunately, attention is being focused on the endemic problem. Under pressure from western countries and Christian organizations, some nations are clamping down on the practice of child exploitation. Unfortunately, enforcement is difficult and deficient for various reasons. The tsunami disaster of 2004 focused the world's attention on the problem as masses of children were orphaned in one day. Conditions continue which result in exploited children.

The Church is challenged to engage itself with the issue. May God give grace and wisdom to each of us to apply our resources, whether financial or through personal involvement.

"Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin." Luke 17:1-2

(Al Meehan is a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators who recently visited Thailand.)

For more information on this topic and on one group opposing it, see the PBS series: The New Heroes, especially the story of Sompop Jantraka and the Development and Education Program for Daughters & Community Center (DEPDC).