Is Goa really a paedophiles paradise?

Is Goa really a paedophiles paradise? PREETU NAIR spoke to Women and Child Minister SUBHASH SHIRODKAR and Children's Rights in Goa president NISHTHA DESAI to know the truth. While Desai believes that there are 'not less than 100' paedophiles operating in Goa, Shirodkar asks where is the data to prove this?


“Tracking paedophiles is not an NGO’s job but of investigating agencies”: Desai.

Interview with Nishta Desai, President , Children’s Rights Goa (CRG), INDIA

Q. In your book See the Evil you state, "there are not less than 'hundreds' of paedophiles operating in Goa in each tourist season". How do you arrive at this figure?

A. It is 'not less than 100'. This estimate was arrived at on the basis of a survey conducted; work in the field, cases reported to us, what community members say etc.

Q. In your recent book Child Sexual Abuse in Goa, you state that many paedophiles still come to Goa. With this knowledge in hand, what are you doing to track down the paedophiles?

A. CRG is primarily involved in prevention of CSA. For this we strive to empower children to protect themselves through our interaction with children. Our campaign against paedophilia and advocacy measures engages the community and the authorities, respectively. Apart from this, when we receive complaints, we verify details of the complaint and inform the police. We have said that when there has been grave suspicion against a travelling sex offender and for various reasons he/she has not been prosecuted, then such persons should be denied visas - as in the cases of Ernie Jean Francois, Allan Dow, John Middleton, Jorg Harry Ringelmann, etc. Tracking paedophiles is not the job of an NGO. We have neither the resources nor the authority to do it. This is the job of the investigating agencies.

Q. How many foreign paedophiles operate in Goa? And how does this "organised and already fairly institutionalised" network work in Goa?

A. I do not have a head count of paedophiles, only an estimate. My book See the Evil will answer this question.

Q. Women and Child Minister Subhash Shirodkar in a recent interview to BBC world service said that the issue of paedophilia is a little hyped and added, "NGOs are not complaining to me. What prevents them, when every week and every month, they meet me?" Have the NGO's working with children failed to report the facts to the Minister in their urge to partner with the state to make child friendly policies?

A. I agree that the issue of paedophilia is hyped and have said so in various interviews, but significantly, media persons have failed to quote me on this. I have also said that this is NOT a Goa-specific problem but a problem that is prevalent in all major tourist destinations, which is also rarely quoted.

With regard to political will, it has to be seen in perspective. There was a time when there was outright denial on the part of the state that tourism related paedophilia in Goa was an issue. Today, it is acknowledged. What is required now is to invoke the provisions in Goa Children's Act, 2003. For this we are working with the government, police, prosecution machinery, medico-legal fraternity and the community. Striving for child friendly policies has consistently been our endeavour. To have effective child protection mechanisms in place, it is essential for NGOs to work in partnership with government.

Q. Why has there been no conviction of paedophiles in the recent past? Besides the failure of the state machinery, doesn't it also show the failure of NGOs working with children?

A. From the last two cases that came before the Children's Court we learnt that there is the need for a witness protection programme to prevent witnesses turning hostile. This could be partly achieved by setting up of a Victims Assistance Unit. Having said this, every agency has a role to play in child protection. For example, when the media has reported cases of offenders operating, NGOs have asked the media to share information so that steps can be taken against the perpetrator, but the media hasn't always cooperated. I think when it comes to child protection we all need to think of how we can be more effective in what we do. Constructive criticism is always welcome.



“It is NGOs duty to ensure that the problem is totally eradicated”: Shirodkar

Interview with Mr Subhash Shirodkar, Minister - Women and Child Department, Government of Goa, INDIA.

Q. Why do you say that the issue of paedophilia is a little hyped up in Goa?

A. Unless and until I see or hear about the cases of paedophilia and get it confirmed, why should I believe it? It is my nature, that I don’t believe anything –good or bad—just by hearsay. Moreover, where is the data to prove the claim? Of course, I have verified with the police department and there are few cases but they are not just cases of paedophilia.

Q. NGOs have been vocal about the problems of CSA to the press. It is surprising that they have never complained to you. Comment.

A. It is been 19 months since I took over as the Women and Child minister. No one has come and reported to me about a child or girl who is being exploited. If the traffickers and trafficked victims are operating in Goa, then they won’t just run away. They would be definitely operating repeatedly at the same spot. If the NGO’s have spotted such things they should come and tell me. I am always open to it. I can depute my people and also inform the police.

Q. Are you scared that if the government takes up the problem of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) in a forthright manner, then the state could loose tourist revenue?

A. At what cost? At the cost of our own children! I shall be the last person to consider such an economic or financial statement that if we investigate we would loose tourist revenue.

Q. If you believe that CSA is not at all a problem in the state, then why did you encourage NGO's to have consultations, meetings and workshops with Women and Child department officials?

A. To deal with problems of CSA and other problems of street children and commercial sexual exploitation we promote the NGOs. The problem has to be nipped in the bud to ensure a safe future for our children. This is the reason why we encourage the NGOs. NGOs need to be there. But I wouldn’t like to comment on the workshops and conferences carried out by the NGOs. I leave it to their judicious mind, for it is they who have to define what they want to do and accordingly function: just have workshops and conferences or really work.

Q. How would you define the role of an NGO? Does NGOs involved in prevention of CSA have an important role to play in tracking the abusers?

A. If at all they are an NGO with the principal of eradication of a problem (not just the problem of CSA), then it is their genuine duty to ensure that the problem is uprooted in its totality. Just to track a problem and then leave it to destiny, that’s not the way an NGO should function. What they start they should take it to the finish. It doesn’t matter if they identify one or two cases for it will expose what they call an “organised network which is institutionalized”. If the NGOs investigate properly with the help of investigating authorities then the “organised network which is institutionalized” will be exposed and the message will go across the society that CSA won’t tolerated in Goa.

Q. Do you agree with the manner in which NGO's go about formulating policies to combat CSA and trafficking without proper study?

A. For the first time I am hearing that CSA in Goa is an “organised network which is institutionalized”. This argument is not true. I don’t say that just for the sake of saying, I mean it. We are encouraging policies to combat trafficking of persons to ensure that the problem is nipped in the bud. If we don’t bother about the issue and leave it to destiny then problems may arise. That shouldn’t happen. We want to ensure that Goa becomes a perfect child friendly state.

Q. Has Goa Children’s Act ensured justice to all children who are victims of sexual abuse?

A. No. There is still much to be done. Awareness amongst people and alertness amongst young generation has to be made. For the same we have set up the State Commission for Children. Moreover, Women and Child department will tie up with Education department to spread awareness about rights and duties of children.