Child-aid-organization.jpg HELP END SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN IN KENYA. Walk Free.org

HELP END SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN IN KENYA The last place you should expect to find a child is in a brothel; yet for 17-year-old Phoebe from Kenya, this is her life.1 Phoebe comes from a poor family. When she dropped out of school her friends told her she could make a living as a sex worker. She thought she could start a new life and find a rich, foreign boyfriend — instead she has been forced to have group sex with tourists for no money.2 A report by End Child Prostitution in Kenya (ECPIK) indicates that more than 50,000 children are involved in different forms of child prostitution.3 Commercial sexual exploitation of children is most common along the Kenyan Coast where a majority of tourism activities take place — in fact travelling sex offenders come to Kenya for this very reason: to prey on these vulnerable victims.4 No child should be forced into the commercial sex industry for their survival. Join Walk Free and Child Aid Organization Kenya in calling on the Kenyan government to declare zero tolerance of commercial sexual exploitation of children, backed by regular monitoring and law enforcement. SOURCES Name changed to protect her identity http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-19/child-sex-tourism-thriving-in-kenyas-port-city-of-mombasa/6333440 http://www.ilo.org/ipecinfo/product/download.do?type=document&id=25136 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27427630 Dear Patricia, Kenya’s beaches are meant to be a place of happy memories and holidays. Yet along the coast is where commercial sexual exploitation of children is thriving. Many tourists actually come to Kenya with the belief that sex with children is culturally and legally acceptable in these parts of the country and thousands of children are being exploited as a result.1 Our partner Child Aid Kenya is taking to the frontlines in the battle to tackle this form of modern slavery. As you read this, they’re working with Child Protection Officers to visit communities in these areas and meet with local leaders, parents and children to discuss how they can practically protect their children from sexual exploitation and abuse. Here’s a simple way that you can support this important work: Please call on Hon. Phyllis Kandie, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism to take urgent action to protect Kenyan children from sexual exploitation by travelling sex offenders. By taking action, we are demonstrating to the government of Kenya that there is global support to tackle this problem. We will also be standing with the people of Kenya to urge their government to take important steps to ensure that travelling sex offenders do not destroy the future and dreams of Kenyan children. Thanks in advance for your support, Sonia, Joanna, Jayde, Tom and the entire team at Walk Free and Child Aid Kenya P.S. Have a spare minute? Check out the brand new Walk Free website here! 1 http://www.panapress.com/Study-reveals-extent-of-Kenya-child-sex-tourism--13-582634-17-lang1-index.html Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook | Subscribe on Youtube | View this email in your browser Walk Free is a movement of people everywhere, fighting to end one of the world's greatest evils: Modern slavery This email was sent to  arbolnuevodevida@gmail.com. You can unsubscribe from WalkFree.org at any time. © 2015 WalkFree.org | All rights reserved | www.walkfree.org