Paedophilic activities in Goa

As a journalist working in Goa. On Thursday, I read a disturbing
report " Now Peedophilia slur on Indian tourist"in the Times of India,Mumbai edition Novemeber 30, 2006, an Indian newspaper, in which Terres
des hommes (TDH) child protection officer Ms. Christa Dammermann and
Ingrid Mendonca, deputy regional co-ordinator TDH spoke to the media
about "paedophilic activities in Goa" at Pune.

There are some very disturbing points she has made to the reporters
that needs immediate attention, especially since one works in Goa. The
remarks show how ignorant the speaker is about the scenario in Goa.

Let me make it clear at the onset that my intention is not to
criticize but only to help you in Terres des hommes (TDH) task. After all, Terres des hommes is a funding agency which supports NGO's working on the issues of children
and I am a journalist who has been reporting on these issues since
last three years.



I must admit that I was shocked to read such irresponsible quotes from
individuals representing a reputed and committed organisation like
yours.

What exactly is my objection?

Christa Dammermann, who is in Pune to attend the national project
partners meeting at YMCA on chil­dren's rights said, "I taken aback to
discover that Indian tourists were indulging in child sexual abuse in
Goa. We also found that 60% of the cases involved perpetrators who
were not even 18 years of age. She said that this dis­pelled the
notion that only foreigners who came to Goa indulged in such acts."

MY OBJECTION: Is there any data to prove this claim? How can Ms.
Dammerman reach such a conclusion? In three years of my career as
journalist I have not come across a case wherein a domestic tourist
has been arrested for paedophilia. On the contrary three foreigners
were arrested for pedophilic activities by the police but were later
acquitted by the Children's Court in Goa for lack of evidence.

It is also impertinent to note here that majority of cases in the
Children's Court are about child sexual abuse and 80 percent of them
is not committed by foreigners or domestic tourists, but by migrant
labourers or known persons.

No one denies the fact that paedophilia is a problem in Goa, but the
extent and magnitude of the problem is not really known because there
is no study in this regard.

It is sad that without any concrete data to support the claim, TDH's
representative is making such irrational statements.

Ingrid Mendonca, deputy regional co-ordinator TDH said that during
their re­cent visit to Goa they found that Indian tourists were
seeking minors when they visited red light areas there.

MY OBJECTION: There can't be anything more ridiculous than this.
Anyone who has visited and studied Goa knows that Baina, the
unofficial red light area of Goa, was demolished in 2004. I don't deny
the fact that prostitution still exists in Baina, but to say that
Indian tourists seek minors when they visit the area is too much of an
exaggeration. Besides, if that was the case then why was not a single
customer seeking minors not arrested. NGO ARZ is working in the area
and must admit that they have done a commendable job in the area.
However, they are also completely ignorant of such a trend.