Drafters should review laws and regulations related to prostitution and the sex industry [link to section on Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in this section of the Knowledge Asset], sex tourism, and the marriage broker industry at a minimum. The existence of industries that revolve around the sale and purchase of human beings either for purposes of prostitution, pornography, stripping, and other forms of sexual exploitation assist sex traffickers in finding “markets” for the sale of women and girls they exploit.  As such, laws and regulations related to these industries must be harmonized with sex trafficking laws. All forms of violence against women and girls, from domestic violence to forced marriage, may serve as “push” factors, which make them vulnerable to sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.   

The Center for Women and Public Policy published Model Provisions for State Anti-Trafficking Laws, which contains proposed language for both sex tourism industry regulation and marriage broker industry regulation. (See: Model Provisions for State Anti-Trafficking Laws, Center for Women Policy Studies, 13-17, 2005)

Promising Practices: Australia provides for strict penalties for those convicted of child sex tourism-related offences. A conviction for sexually exploiting children under 16 years old carries a 17 year prison sentence. (See: U.S. State Department 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, 68, 2009) Canadians who sexually exploit children abroad may be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison. The Canadian government published a brochure entitled “Bon Voyage, But…” to educate travelers about such penalties. (See: U.S. State Department 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, 100, 2009)  Similarly, Spain warns travelers using the motto “There Are No Excuses” published in Spanish on a website. (See: U.S. State Department 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, 263, 2009)