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

abuse. 49 Death and abduction of parents can remove the child’s primary breadwinners and
protectors, often leaving younger children in the care of older siblings. Displacement often
leads to children being separated from their families. In some countries, such as Afghanistan,
boys face a greater risk of separation because social norms keep girls close to the family and
community. Refugee communities throughout South Asia face high levels of rape, abduction
and child trafficking. 50 For those who stay in their communities, the presence of soldiers
increases the incidence of sexual abuse, among boys as well as girls. Boys in particular are
subject to arrest and detention, which in turn can result in sexual abuse by military and prison
personnel. 51
1.6 Living on the Street
Children separated from their families who live on the street as well as unseparated children
who work on the street are frequent victims of sexual abuse. These children face some of the
highest reported incidence of sexual abuse and exploitation throughout South Asia. 52
While open to the predations of local gangs, police, shopkeepers and community members,
children on the street have limited adult protection – indeed, often their ‘protection’ is
provided by older peers or gangs, who exact sexual favours in exchange for protection from
theft, beating or rape by others. 53 Studies indicate that children living on the street routinely
engage in both consensual and non-consensual sexual activities within their communities.
Similar to the situation in institutions, weaker or younger children are often obliged to be
sexual partners to dominant children. The high rate of sexual activity, coupled with the
prevalence of substance abuse, means they are in great need of HIV/AIDS harm reduction
initiatives, as are children in prostitution.
49
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2005, ‘Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives,
Thailand: Earthquake and tsunami situation report No. 29’.
; Boyden, J. and de Berry, J. et al., 2002,
‘Children affected by armed conflict in South Asia: A review of trends and issues identified through secondary
research’.
50
Boyden, J. and de Berry, J. et al., 2002, ‘Children affected by armed conflict in South Asia: A review of
trends and issues identified through secondary research’.
51
Ibid.
52
ECPAT International, 2006, ‘Global monitoring report on the status of action against commercial sexual
exploitation of children: Bangladesh’; ECPAT International and INCIDIN Bangladesh, 2006, ‘The boys and the
bullies: A situational analysis report on prostitution of boys in Bangladesh’; P. Virani, 2000, ‘Bitter chocolate:
Child sexual abuse in India’; Child Protection Centres and Services Nepal, 2008, ‘The abuse of street children in
Kathmandu’; International Labour Organization/International Programme on the elimination of child labour; G.
Subedi, 2002, ‘Trafficking and sexual abuse among street children in Kathmandu’; ECPAT International and
Pakistan Paediatric Association, 2006, ‘Situational analysis report on prostitution of boys in Pakistan (Lahore
and Peshawar)’.
53
For example: ECPAT International and INCIDIN Bangladesh, 2006, ‘The boys and the bullies: A situational
analysis report on prostitution of boys in Bangladesh’.
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