The proposed changes to the penal code to include the prosecution of Singaporeans who travel overseas to solicit for sex with young children or minors is timely and in particular, well-received by numerous non-profit governmental organisations such as Partnership in Health and Humanity Foundation who are fighting against child-sex tourism.
In a media report by Channel News Asia, it states that the proposed changes to the penal code have affected sex-tourism in Batam. Many businesses there have since seen a drop in about 50% of its business.
The commercial sexual exploitation of children has devastating consequences for these minors, which may include long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, disease (including HIV/AIDS), drug addiction, unwanted pregnancy, malnutrition, social ostracism, and possibly death. Many of these exploited children are highly sought after by their clients primarily because of a warped perception that in prostitution, age is correlated to the chances of contracting HIV/AIDS; it seems that the younger the child is the demand for that child is even greater. Yet, the fact still remains that contracting HIV/AIDS transcends across a person’s age.
Presently, Singaporeans who have sex with minors in other countries cannot be prosecuted in Singapore, as our courts do not have jurisdiction over them. In light of this, Ms Indranee Rajah asked the Government to stop our nationals from preying on minors in other countries by denying them a safe haven through enacting legislation with an extra-territorial effect.
The idea of an extra-territorial jurisdiction is challenging with respect to investigation and prosecution of cases involving offences committed by Singaporeans in other countries. Some of these challenges include language barriers and different local conditions thus making it difficult to trace and interview foreign witnesses and gather evidence. Therefore, an extra-territorial jurisdiction has to be a collaborative one and by itself is definitely no panacea.
In all aspects of morality, participating in such an execrable act is showing nothing but a complete absence of the intrinsic humane. Many hope that with this inclusion, the Government can send a strong signal to Singaporeans who are sexually exploiting minors overseas that such an act is abhorrent in nature and would therefore deter them from doing so.
