VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #5304/01 3540659
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200659Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6084
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS NAIROBI 005304 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, AND DRL/IL 
DEPT ALSO PASS TO USTR FOR LEWIS KARESH 
DEPT ALSO PASS TO DEPT OF LABOR FOR SUDHA HALEY, MICHAL MURPHY AND 
TINA MCCARTER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ELAB PHUM KCRM ECON PGOV KE
SUBJECT: UNICEF LAUNCHES SHOCKING STUDY ON CHILD SEX TOURISM 
 
Ref: NAIROBI 4070 
 
¶1. Summary: On December 19, 2006, UNICEF and the Ministry of Home 
Affairs launched their long-awaited joint research report on child 
sex tourism (CST) in four of Kenya's main beach resorts. Surveys and 
research indicate that up to 30% of all 12-18 year old girls living 
in these areas are involved in casual sex work.  Two to three 
thousand girls and boys are involved in full-time, year-round 
commercial sex in the coastal resorts, but up to 45% are from other 
provinces.  38% of the children's clients were Kenyan, with Italian, 
German and Swiss tourists accounting for another 44%.  More than 75% 
of surveyed locals either accepted CST as normal or actively 
approved of it.  Vice President and Minister of Home Affairs Awori 
squarely accepted the research as real and factual, and acknowledged 
the failure of police and communities to enforce Kenya's laws.  The 
VP called for wider participation in the ECPAT tourism industry Code 
of Conduct to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation and called 
on originating countries to monitor websites marketing Kenya as a 
CST destination.  UNICEF and the GOK will continue to brief Coast 
Province communities on the report, more CST research is being done 
in Kenya's other major towns, and stakeholders will work to develop 
policies and programs to change Kenyan attitudes and behavior to 
protect Kenya's children.  End summary. 
 
Yes, CST on the Coast Is as Bad as Previewed 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶2. Horrific bits and pieces of UNICEF's 2005-06 research report on 
child sex tourism (CST) have been leaking out of briefings into the 
press for more than six months, prompting protests and disbelief. 
The whole report was finally launched by UNICEF and the Ministry of 
Home Affairs to a large media audience on December 19, and is as bad 
as previewed.  Lead researcher C. Sarah Jones described the 
methodology of the research project, noting that it sought to map 
and determine the extent of CST, and obtain qualitative data to 
enable the GOK and stakeholders to develop more effective programs 
and interventions.  She summarized the findings detailed in the 
executive summary cited in para 9.  Although the report lists 
Kenyans as representing 38% of the clients, presenters consistently 
cited the figure as 41%, which the report lists as the "cumulative 
percent."  USA/American were only 1.3 cumulative percent of 
clients. 
 
UNICEF Director: Horror and Hope 
-------------------------------- 
¶3. UNICEF Kenya Director Heimo Laakonen opened by noting that the 
report's details of child abuse and the failure of parents to 
protect children ("atrocities") were too terrible to allow UNICEF's 
usual practice of including children in the event.  When UNICEF 
commissioned the report in 2005, it did not anticipate these 
findings.  Although Italian, German and Swiss tourists were the 
leading foreign clients, almost every nation in the world was 
represented.  Although the problem was monumental, Laakonen noted 
that his experience in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic showed 
it is possible to reduce demand for and supply of child prostitutes. 
 Laakonen called for intensive sensitization for tourists, arrest, 
trial and punishment in Kenya for perpetrators, support from tourist 
origin countries, and a strong child protection campaign in Kenya. 
 
¶4. Laakonen described how, as in other countries, the large hotels 
and chains with a strong self-interest in clean tourism, were the 
first to sign up and are fully supporting the ECPAT tourism industry 
Code of Conduct.  He hoped the owners of the numerous, unregistered 
guest houses and private villas, plus bars and other establishments 
would follow suit. 
 
VP Awori Accepts Results and Calls for Action 
--------------------------------------------- 
¶5. Vice President and Minister of Home Affairs Awori squarely 
accepted the research as a real and factual description of a growing 
problem that must be publicly confronted.  While unemployment, 
poverty and HIV/AIDS make children vulnerable, the terrible 
situation showed the deterioration of Kenyan morals and traditional 
African family values.  While tourism poses risks to children, the 
high proportion of Kenyan clients and widespread acceptance of CST 
showed the lack of support and protection for children in Kenyan 
society.  ("We must condemn ourselves.  Let us Kenyans change.") 
Awori acknowledged the failure of police and communities to enforce 
Kenya's laws, and to sometimes treat exploited children as criminals 
rather than victims.  In a clear call to end impunity for tourists, 
the VP urged police and communities to implement the Children's Act 
and other laws consistently, and not to protect child exploiters. 
 
¶6. VP Awori urged wider hospitality industry participation in the 
ECPAT tourism industry Code of Conduct to Protect Children from 
Sexual Exploitation.  Unfortunately, the VP misquoted the number of 
hotels signed up to the Code as 300 when it is closer to 30, but he 
did admit that a majority of guest houses, lodgings, bars and clubs 
had not yet joined.  The VP called on originating countries to share 
any reports they receive of their citizens engaging in CST in Kenya, 
and to monitor websites and other campaigns marketing Kenya as a CST 
destination.  Awori dedicated the GOK to combating CST, and welcomed 
UNICEF's support in developing long-term strategies for child 
protection and social/behavioral changes.  Awori regretted that 
Parliament was in recess and no MPs were present.  He urged the 
attending media to widely publicize the report and help prevent the 
spread of child prostitution in Kenya. 
 
Next Steps 
---------- 
¶7.  Awori stated the GOK was reviewing the Children's Act and 
considering making the penalties much more severe.  He said the GOK 
would expand a Social Safety Net Cash Transfer Pilot Scheme to help 
vulnerable families avoid sending their children to work.  He said 
that Kenyan Immigration would require all visitors to provide their 
home address (and Kenyan destinations?), implying this would deter 
CST or help authorities track pedophiles.  Laakonen announced that 
the relevant Parliamentary Committee has already invited UNICEF to 
present its findings.  Children Department Director Hussein and 
Laakonen said the research team previously briefed participants and 
stakeholders in the four resort areas, and they would share the 
information widely with the population of Coast Province.  UNICEF 
and the Home Ministry's Children's Department plan events 
specifically aimed at youth.  CST research projects are underway in 
other Kenyan cities and will expand the knowledge base.  Laakonen 
predicted they will find CST common in other cities, relying mainly 
on Kenyan clients. 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶8. Although leaks had already previewed the report's key findings, 
they provoked some denial, blame of foreign tourists, and 
questioning whether to maintain the tourism industry.  We hope the 
detailed explanation of the thorough research procedures behind the 
shameful statistics, plus the VP's forthright acceptance of Kenya's 
share of responsibility, will restrict those reactions.  Embassy 
will continue to work closely with GOK agencies, police, 
international organizations, NGOs, and the tourism-hospitality 
industry and advocate expanded participation in the Code of Conduct 
and more effective implementation of Kenya's laws. 
 
¶9. Extent and Effect of Sex Tourism and Sexual Exploitation of 
Children on the Kenyan Coast: Executive Summary 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
The commercial sexual exploitation of children in coastal areas 
exposed in this report is shocking violation of their rights, and a 
reflection of the profound risk potentially faced by all children in 
Kenya.  Some ten to fifteen thousand girls living in coastal areas 
of Malindi, Mombasa, Kalifi and Diani are involved in casual sex 
work - up to 30% of all 12-18 year olds living in these areas.  A 
further two to three thousand girls and boys are involved in 
full-time year round commercial activity.  Many full-time child sex 
workers have migrated to the coast from other parts of the country, 
and have often been inaugurated into sex work before they arrive. 
The sexual exploitation of children is not limited to coastal areas 
or to tourists, but can be found in communities across Kenya.  About 
one in ten children involved in sex work are initiated before they 
reach puberty. 
 
The level and acceptance of sexual exploitation of children in 
coastal areas puts all children in Kenya at risk.  It reflects a 
fundamental breakdown and corruption of families and communities, 
and a failure of the authorities to provide protection to children 
and to prosecute those responsible for promoting and profiting from 
child sex work.  Tourists that exploit children are at the centre of 
a ring of corruption that involves many from the local community. 
Child sex workers are often compelled to deliver sexual services to 
Kenyans - beach boys, bar staff, waiters, and others - in order to 
access tourists.  During the low tourist season, the local market 
for child sex workers keeps the system going. 
 
The sexual exploitation of children therefore thrives because of the 
complicity of a broad section of the local community.  While some 
children are driven into transactional sex because of poverty, the 
high level of acceptance of child sex work in coastal communities 
makes it relatively easy for children to drift into casual sex in 
exchange for no more than extra pocket money.  Many younger girls 
reported that they begin in local bars to gain experience and money 
to allow them to buy clothes, accessories and hairstyles that will 
enable access to the tourist market. 
 
Overall, 38% of the clients of child sex workers consulted for the 
survey were Kenyan.  Tourists exploiting children for sex came from 
many countries, with the most common offenders coming from Italy 
(18%), Germany (14%) and Switzerland (12%). 
 
Coastal communities are among the poorest in Kenya.  The lucrative 
tourism industry has failed to deliver significant benefits and 
employment for host communities, and this has exacerbated and 
increased the vulnerability of children to sexual exploitation. 
 
Child sex workers are not criminals.  They are the victims of sexual 
exploitation. It is vital that the adult perpetrators and not the 
victims themselves are prosecuted for these crimes.  At the same 
time, it must be recognized that the use of raids or the exclusion 
of children from certain public areas as the central plank of a 
reduction program risks driving the activity underground, leading to 
greater marginalisation, increased risk of exploitation and even 
less protection. 
 
The Kenyan government, civil society, the tourist industry, the 
broader private sector must urgently come together to prevent and 
end the sexual exploitation of children.  The countries whose 
nationals are exploiting Kenyan children also have a key role to 
play in preventing these heinous crimes. 
 
The study presents the following key findings: 
 
- 1. Magnitude 
 
The study identified two distinct groups of children engaged in sex 
work: those who work as informal sex workers on a casual and ad hoc 
basis and those who engage in sex work as a full-time income 
generating activity. 
 
Children involved in sex work and sex tourism are not a homogeneous 
group.  As many as 45% of children engaged in sex work with tourists 
are from outside coast province with large numbers coming from 
Eastern, Central and Western provinces. 
 
Sex workers include children whose basic needs cannot be met by 
family for reasons of unemployment, under-employment and loss of one 
or both parents.  However, over 50% of child sex workers have 
parents in employment and are still attending school in the resort 
areas but would like to earn additional pocket money.  However, as 
they operate within their own home communities they are usually 
discreet and careful not to be seen by older members of their 
communities. 
 
The population of children between 12 and 18 years of age in the 
districts under study, from education and KDHS survey data, is 
estimated to be approximately 100 -120,000 of which 60-65,000 are 
girls.  Of that number, it is estimated that 40 - 50,000 live in and 
around the resort areas. From the various sources of data and 
triangulation, a conservative assessment of the involvement of girls 
in sex work and sex tourism is between 25% - 30%.  In numerical 
terms that represents a figure of 10,000-15,000.  However, the 
number of children engaging in sex tourism as a full-time year round 
commercial activity is much lower at a figure of 2,000 - 3,000. 
 
- 2. Vulnerability of children involved in Child Sex Tourism (CST) 
 
More than half the girls engaged in full-time commercial sex work 
are living apart from family, parents and guardians. 
 
Of that group, the majority are living in communities of sex workers 
and sharing the rental of rooms between 4-6 girls. 
 
Of child sex workers from resort areas, 40% had lost one or both 
parents. 
 
Widespread acceptance and approval of the practice of CST 
(Key informants were drawn mostly from the tourism industry 
(hair/massage salon keepers, curio sellers, waiters, bar staff, 
beach boys etc.) but also including government staff, members of 
NGOs, parents, students, community leaders, and representatives of 
faith based organizations.) 
 
More than 75% of key informants either accepted the practice of CST 
as normal and tolerable or actively approved of it.  Only 20% saw 
the behavior as immoral.  Approval of the practice was associated 
with it bringing wealth and advantage to individual girls and their 
families and generating income that would benefit various sectors of 
the community. 
 
59% of key informants thought boys' involvement in sex tourism as 
beach boys, procurers and middlemen or engaging in sex work with 
tourists was acceptable. 
 
- 3. Early initiation into transactional sex 
 
All data sources indicated that more than 45% of girls involved in 
prostitution and child sex tourism began transactional sex for cash 
or for goods and favors between the ages of 12 and 13 years. 
More than 10% of girls begin transactional sex below 12 years of 
age. 
 
- 4. Child sex tourism is intricately and closely linked to child 
prostitution 
 
39% of the clients of child sex workers in the study were Kenyan 
men. 
 
Child sex workers provide sexual services to Kenyan hotel workers 
and beach boys in order to gain access to tourists. 
 
The existence of a local demand for child sex workers sustains the 
sex tourist market during low seasons or tourist market 
fluctuations. 
 
- 5. Economics of child sex tourism 
 
Child sex tourism is highly lucrative and drives the informal and 
the commercial sex trade.  The disparity between a family's capacity 
to generate goods and income and what can be earned in sex work 
feeds the domestic culture which encourages children to seek out 
tourists 
 
Average prices paid by tourists in each age category: 
Below age 12 - 1,000 -2000KSH 
Ages 12-16 - 1,000 -2000KSH 
Ages 16-18 - 2000 - 5,000KSH 
 
Price paid for anal intercourse ranges between 5,000 - 10,000KSH 
 
The daily rate of casual labor for a child is between 80 -120 KSh 
and for an adult 300-500 KSh 
 
- 6. Clients and risk behavior 
 
In the study sites, Italians, Germans and Swiss men rank as the top 
three clients of under-age female sex workers at 18%, 14% and 12% 
respectively.  These three nationalities were significantly more 
active with under age girls than other nationalities.  Ugandans and 
Tanzanians ranked fifth and sixth in the client group.  British and 
Saudi Arabian men ranked seventh and eighth. 
 
Anal sex represented 12% of all sex acts but 30% of all sex acts 
with Italian men. 
 
No condom was used during 32% of all penetrative sex acts and 42% of 
all acts of anal sex. 
 
Kenyans, Italians and Germans ranked as having the lowest condom 
use. 
 
Recommendations 
The Kenyan government, civil society, the tourist industry and 
communities themselves must recognize that child prostitution is a 
widespread in Kenya.  Swift, effective action backed by financial 
and human resources is urgently needed to ensure the protection of 
children and prosecution of adult perpetrators.  Combating child sex 
tourism requires commitment of the community and overt condemnation 
and disapproval of the behavior itself and not merely of the actors 
 
There must be a major shift in thinking and values away from 
punishing the child and his or her family and instead holding the 
people who engage in transactional sex with minors as accountable 
and responsible. This needs to be the starting point for developing 
a plan of action and for all communication campaigns. 
 
Because of the large number of children coming to the coast from 
other parts of the country to engage in sex work with tourists, 
Child Sex Tourism needs to be understood as a national and not just 
a local problem confined to the Coast province. 
 
Legal instruments must be reviewed to ensure third parties to the 
sexual exploitation of minors can be held responsible and 
accountable and the courts be given the power to enact costly 
penalties e.g. closing establishments, increased monitoring of 
long-term foreign tourists etc. 
 
The active involvement and commitment from Treasury, Ministry of 
Tourism, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs and the Ministries of Education and Health are 
required for any reduction measures to carry weight and be 
sustainable. Particular efforts need to be addressed to training and 
accountability of police officers. 
 
The Government and its partners need to consider how and in what 
ways poverty reduction programs can be stepped up in the areas which 
surround the key tourist strips, e.g.: target children and youth, 
creation of vocational training opportunities, greater role for 
youth in economic planning, increase availability of secondary 
school places, shifting training institutions such as Utalii and 
certain Government of Kenya offices from Nairobi to Coast Province, 
long-term funded school feeding programs, etc. 
 
The Government should play a more active role in the global tourism 
arena including participating in global conferences on child sex 
tourism and paedophilia reviewing policies and strategic plans for 
tourism in Kenya to encourage the kinds of tourists and tourism that 
respects and supports local customs and values, and marketing Kenya 
to that specific market 
 
RANNEBERGER