Webcam Child Sex Tourism: An Emerging Global Issue

Abstract

Increased globalization through access to the internet has made it easier than ever for child perpetrators to exploit children overseas from the comfort of their couches. Webcam Child Sex Tourism (WCST) occurs when an adult pays to direct and view live-streaming video footage of a child in another country preforming sexual acts in front of a webcam. Currently this issue resides mainly in the Philippines where there are tens of thousands of child victims. According to a study conducted by Terre des Hommes, an advocacy organization based in the Netherlands, many child victims of WCST suffer psychological symptoms consistent with sexual trauma. There are international legislations and policies that indirectly prohibit WCST, yet only six perpetrators have been convicted for this crime. This presentation is a review of literature and research on the emerging global issue of Webcam Child Sex Tourism and will focus specifically on defining the issue, the trauma experienced by WCST victims, international policies, and what can be done to prevent the spread of WCST

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