SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A ...

experience, entering prostitution due to peer pressure. Lahore has an estimated 2,500 of these
boys being exploited as prostitutes, 345 frequenting streets, theatres, parks and other public
places.
7.1.5.2 Exploitation in travel and tourism
There is no report of international sexual exploitation in travel and tourism in Pakistan. 346
However, the prostitution of boys for local pilgrims and tourists at mazaars (shrines of the
saints) throughout Pakistan has been noted by researchers. 347 Mostly boys from the NWFP,
usually runaways (children who run away from home) or children living on the street, they
gather at the shrines on holy days when thousands of pilgrims and visitors come to pay their
respects to the saints. Boys servicing Pakistani tourists have also been noted at a number of
important historical tourist attractions in the north of the country. 348
7.1.5.3 Trafficking for sexual exploitation
While there are reports of Pakistani boys being trafficked, as well as smuggled, for domestic
service, military service and exploitive labour both inside and outside the country, as well as
for camel jockeying in the Gulf states 349 there are few reports of boys being trafficked directly
for sexual exploitation. However, the prevalence of forced child labour, bonded labour and
other practices significantly increases the likelihood of boys being trafficked into situations
from which they might be pushed by need, peer pressure or coercion into prostitution.
7.2 Legislation
Pakistan has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the SAARC Convention on
Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution, and ILO
Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. It has signed the Optional Protocol on
the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. It adopted the Stockholm
Declaration and Agenda for Action in 1996 and reaffirmed its commitment in Yokohama in
2001. It has not signed the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol).
Pakistan has both national and provincial legislation used to address the sexual abuse and
sexual exploitation of children. The primary national legislation includes the Pakistan
Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961; the Prevention and Control of Human
Trafficking Ordinance 2002 and subsequent Rules of 2003 and 2004; the Offence of Zina
(Enforcement of Hudood). Ordinance 1979; the Protection of Women (Criminal Laws
345
ECPAT International and Pakistan Paediatrics Association, 2006, ‘Situational analysis report on prostitution
of boys in Pakistan (Lahore and Peshawar)’.
346
Ibid.
347
Working Group Against Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, and Save the Children Sweden, 2005,
‘Commercial sexual exploitation of children: A situation analysis of Pakistan’.
348
Haber, D., 1998, ‘The pleasure boys of Pakistan’s northwest frontier’ (unpublished manuscript).
349
It should be noted that this practice has ended, and the children who where exploited as camel jockeys have
got the possibility to return home, inter alia through the support by UNICEF and other organizations, more info
available at: , accessed at 18 March 2010.
112