Questions about reporting suspected child abuse abroad

• What happens with my report?

  Defence for Children - ECPAT treats all reports that are received via this site confidentially. After assessing the report, we forward the information to the police (anonymised if desired). Every report is taken seriously by a police team that is specialized in investigating travelling Dutch child sex offenders. This team has a strong network with foreign police services.

  Whether a report can actually turn into an investigation in the country itself or otherwise in the Netherlands depends on many factors. If a report of sexual abuse of children abroad has sufficient leads for further investigation, the Dutch police will contact its partners in the country concerned. The Dutch police does not have investigative powers abroad, but cooperates with foreign police authorities. Investigation abroad is therefore carried out by the local authorities of the country concerned. Dutch perpetrators can be convicted in the Netherlands for child sexual abuse abroad, but prosecution preferably takes place in the country where the abuse took place. This does justice to the suffering inflicted on the victims.

• What is my role after a report?

  The police is always happy when people report suspicious situations and when the witnesses are willing to provide further information. This could be information that may not have been provided at the time of submitting the report, because it was not considered to be relevant. When you witnessed a suspicious situation, the police can ask you to make a witness statement. The role as a witness in a possible criminal investigation is then explained by the police. It is then up to the witness to decide what further role they want to have.

• What happens to the victim(s) after a report?

  Every effort is made to end the unsafe situation for a child. This is custom-made for each situation and where necessary there is cooperation with relevant organizations. The interest and safety of the child always come first in matters of the abuse or exploitation of a child.

• What can I do when I am not sure if a situation is suspicious?

  If in doubt, you can first discuss the situation with an employee of the hotline. Please contact us during office hours by calling: +31 – (0)71 - 516 09 80 or send an e-mail to: info@dontlookaway.nl.

• Can a report lead to an arrest?

  The police needs reports to track down perpetrators and get children out of exploitation situations. However, this does not mean that a report immediately results in an arrest or a house search. The police will first investigate whether the information that has been shared with the police is actually correct. This is to prevent false reports. Reports can certainly lead to arrests and convictions. There are many examples of Dutch people who have been convicted for child sexual abuse abroad. But even if no arrest occurs, children can still be helped out of the situation.

• How are false reports prevented?

  The main task of the police is to find out the truth. This means that it is first necessary to find out whether the information shared with the police is actually correct. This means that a report does not immediately result in an arrest or a house search. Filing a Don’t Look Away report is not the same as filing a police report. Filing a police report of child sexual abuse abroad with literally means: "I am requesting prosecution." This is not the case when filing a Don’t Look Away report.

  Investigations into reports about Dutch people in suspicious situations with children abroad can therefore lead to different outcomes. One of those outcomes is that there is insufficient evidence to proceed an investigation (at that time). This does not mean that the police does nothing with the report. The information is filed in police systems, so that this information may come in handy for any future reports. Therefore, be as specific and comprehensive as possible in describing suspicious situations and upload - if possible and safely - a photo or video of the situation on the reporting site.

• What information should I report if I see a suspicious situation abroad?

  Try to fill in the following information in the report form:

  • As much detail as possible about the perpetrator(s) and victim(s)
  • A description of what you have seen or heard
  • Where and when this happened
  • Other relevant or notable details

  Note: Never start an investigation yourself!

• Where else can I report suspicions of child abuse/exploitation?
  • Child abuse and exploitation in the Netherlands: Police
  • Images of child sexual abuse: Hotline Online Abuse Images
  • Hotlines in other countries: Dontlookaway.report
  • Telephone helpline (and chat) for anyone who is concerned about their own or other people's sexual feelings and/or behaviour towards children: Offlimits
  • Report Crimes Anonymous (0800-7000)
  • Travel organization (tour operator, tour leader)
  • Local National Police: Anti-Trafficking of Children's Unit
  • Local NGO (e.g. ECPAT) or at ECPAT International: protect@ecpat.net
• Sexual exploitation of children occurs in the country that I will be visiting. What can I do?
  • Choose a travel organization that is member of The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation (‘The Code’).
  • Be alert and report suspected child sexual abuse abroad via nl or Dontlookaway.report or to the local police (national children's unit or anti-trafficking unit).
  • If you suspect that children are being abused in your hotel, next to reporting at hotline and/or police, also report it to your travel organization. They can discuss this with the hotel or terminate the cooperation.
  • Do not stay in hotels where local children are allowed in the hotel rooms.
  • Avoid clubs, bars, massage parlours and brothels where children are present.
  • Do not give money to begging children or underage street vendors who work during school hours or late at night. Instead, support local organizations that focus on child protection, education or poverty reduction.
  • Be aware that you can’t take pictures of children without permission from parents/guardians.
  • Do not volunteer in orphanages and do not visit orphanages or shows with orphans. This maintains an undesirable system in which children grow up unnecessarily (long) in institutions. Read more about it at: Better Care Network or Learning Service.
• Who are the initiators of the Don't Look Away campaign in the Netherlands?

  The Don't Look Away campaign in the Netherlands is a collaboration between the Ministry of Justice and Security, Royal Military Police, National Police, National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children, Offlimits, ANVR (branch organization), Fox Reizen, TUI,  Corendon, International Justice Mission, Defence for Children - ECPAT, Terre des Hommes, Plan International Nederland and Free a Girl.

Questions about what exactly constitutes child sexual exploitation

• Up to what age can you speak of sexual exploitation of children?

  According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, every person below the age of eighteen has the right to be protected against sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. The age at which children are legally allowed to have sex varies by country. This is also called ‘age of consent’. In the Netherlands the age of consent is sixteen years. Under no circumstances should the minor be forced or persuaded by promising or giving money or goods. If such occurs, then we can speak of sexual exploitation.

• What situations can indicate sexual exploitation of children?
  • An adult touches a child inappropriately at the pool, beach, restaurant, bar, club, hotel, or at another location
  • An adult isolates himself/herself with a child, e.g. in a hotel room or a (private) apartment
  • A child is dancing (half) naked in front of adults
  • Someone offers a child or young person for sexual services
  • Someone is looking for sexual services from children or young people
  • A hotel or organisation allows child sexual exploitation or abuse on its premises or through other companies
  • An adult talks about their sexual experience with a child
  • An adult takes many pictures of children, especially on the beach and at the pool
  • An adult shows sexual abuse images to a child
  • An adult takes many pictures of children, especially on the beach and at the pool
  • An adult shows sexual abuse images to a child
• What are the causes of child sexual exploitation?

  There is no single cause for sexual exploitation of children. Poverty, the demand for sex with children and young people, the internet and the possibility to fly to all parts of the worlds are major causes. In poor countries there is often a lack of education, high unemployment and inadequate law enforcement. If the tourism sector then grows in a unregulated way, children are at risk of being exploited by travellers.

• Which children are especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation?
  • Children living in poverty
  • Children who are neglected, mistreated or abused
  • Refugee children who are travelling without parents
  • Children of minority groups
  • Children without parental care
  • Children living on the street
  • Children who have to work
• What are the consequences of sexual exploitation for children?

  Sexual abuse and exploitation leads to great emotional, physical and social damage to victims. Abuse and exploitation are usually accompanied by physical and mental violence, and so with injuries, pain and fear as a result. Victims also have a high risk of unwanted pregnancy, HIV/Aids and other sexual transmittable diseases. In the long run, they deal with feelings of guilt, depression, trauma and a negative self-image. Furthermore, victims often suffer from a stigma. They are therefore excluded from education, for example. If a victim ends up in prostitution, it is difficult to get out of it.

• Who are the perpetrators?

  There is no single description of a child sex abuser. Child sex abusers are of all ages, nationalities, religions and strata of the population. They can be straight or gay, married or single. Although the majority is men, there are also female child sex abusers. Not only tourists abuse children abroad, but also business travellers, aid workers, volunteers, emigrants, expats, soldiers, diplomats or truck drivers.

• In which countries does child sexual exploitation occur?

  Sexual exploitation of children occurs all over the world. It can occur in both developed and developing countries. However, there are countries where this occurs more visibly than in other countries. Countries where it also happens more blatantly and where tourists therefore abuse children more often. These are countries where poverty is prevalent, law enforcement is weak, corruption is rife, and which are popular with tourists.

• Where can I find more information on this topic?

  Websites

  • The Code
  • ECPAT
  • Dontlookaway.report

  Publications

  • Quality standards for reporting centers for child sexual exploitation (ECPAT Austria, 2020). These are available in Dutch, English, German and French.
  • Reluctance to report sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (Defence for Children – ECPAT, 2019).
  • Offenders on the Move(ECPAT, 2016) Child sexual exploitation in tourism and travel is increasing worldwide, according to research by ECPAT. More than 70 organizations participated.
  • Barriers to Child Sex Tourism (National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children, 2013). A report on child abuse while traveling by Dutch citizens. It addresses preventive (legal) measures and the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators.

  E-learnings for the hotel industry

  • E-learning signalling sexual exploitation in hotels and holiday parks

Questions about what is already being done against child sexual exploitation

• What is the travel industry doing to combat child sexual exploitation?

  There is a code of conduct for the travel industry: the "Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation" (‘The Code’). More than 300 organizations in 150 countries have signed The Code, from tour operators (Corendon) and hotels (AccorHotels), to airlines (Delta), restaurants and night clubs. The Code was developed by ECPAT International, together with the travel industry and the UN World Tourism Organization. You can find a list of all Dutch companies that have signed The Code here below.

  

   

• What is the Dutch government doing to prevent Dutch people from abusing children abroad?

  The Ministry of Justice and Security has drawn up action plans to stop Dutch travelling child sex offenders. The action plans focus on: prevention, criminal justice, and cooperation with NGOs and authorities in other countries. The Ministry is also a partner in the Dutch Don't Look Away campaign.

  Since October 2012, combating Dutch travelling child sex offenders has been explicitly added to the duties of the police. The team working on combating online child sexual abuse material and child sex tourism has been significantly expanded. Liaison officers have been deployed in Southeast Asia specifically dealing with this topic. The liaison officer ensures that cooperation with the police abroad runs smoothly and supports the police abroad if a Dutch suspect is involved in a case.