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

The development community in Sri Lanka has been very aware of the impacts on children of
both its long civil war and the recent tsunami. Thus, recent changes of economy and society
in the country have been somewhat reflected in the knowledge base (discussed below) by, for
example, including children living in the war zones or tsunami-affected areas among the
target populations of vulnerable and exploited children. However, due to inadequate research
methodology and analysis, the impacts of war, social change and natural disaster on the
sexual abuse and exploitation of boys are not clear. For example, the impacts of the war on
boys’ involvement in sex tourism or the possible increase of boy sexual abuse by military
personnel have not been studied or analysed.
8.1.3 Sexual abuse of boys
Concerns and research about sexual abuse and exploitation and travelling sex offenders,
particularly affecting boys, emerged about 30 years ago, earlier than in other countries of the
region. 386 Yet research on the situation has flagged in recent years, with only a few
professional studies having been conducted since 2000.
Although research has not provided comprehensive quantitative data, studies have shown that
sexual abuse of boys by adults is prevalent in Sri Lanka. 387 An estimated 20 per cent of boys
and 10 per cent of girls are abused at home or school. 388 Boys are also abused in recreational
and work settings, such as on the beach and in fishing boats, hotels and shops. 389 Research
has shown a high rate of sexual abuse of domestic labourers, primarily girls. 390 As elsewhere
in South Asia, boys living on the street are abused by local vendors and other people living or
working on the streets.
Boys’ average age of first sexual abuse is approximately 14 years, and the perpetrators are
primarily male, usually peers, relatives or family friends. For boys living near tourist areas,
foreigners are often the first perpetrators. 391
Studies in Sri Lanka have shown a relatively high rate of consent among boys to the first
sexual contact, particularly in tourist areas, rather than use of force or duplicity. It is not easy
to separate sexual abuse of boys from their entry into sexual exploitation. Many boys enter
abusive situations without remuneration, primarily through the influence of peers or foreign
tourists. This is often a matter of ‘friendship’ with the perpetrator, as well as peer pressure to
engage in what many boys consider a ‘recreational activity’.
386
For example, Bond, T., 1980, ‘Boy prostitution in Sri Lanka’, Lausanne, Terre des hommes.
387
de Silva, H., 2000, ‘Child Abuse in Sri Lanka’, in Partners in the Judicial Process on Child Labour.
388
National Child Protection Authority, 2003, ‘Many children still abused and neglected in Sri Lanka’. Accessed
at:
389
Terre des hommes (Lausanne), 2006, ‘Sri Lanka research report: Child trafficking and links with child sex
tourism and the commercial sexual exploitation of children’. (draft)
390
International Labour Organization (H. de Silva, Kannangara, N. and Parndigamage, N.), 2003, ‘Sri Lanka
child domestic labour: A rapid assessment’.
391
International Labour Organization (Amarasinghe, S.), 2002, ‘Sri Lanka: The commercial sexual exploitation
of children: A rapid assessment’.
127