By Himanshu Bhatt of Fz
GEORGE TOWN (April 9): The organisers of a seminar on the scourge of sex trafficking here have deplored overblown comments and slant in the media on the event as woeful and detracting from the gravity of the problem.
In a statement yesterday, the group called Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign described the “negative line” of reporting as a pity, since the issue is a serious one - about finding and supporting victims of sex trafficking, and bringing criminals to justice.
“It is not about party politics or apportioning blame,” it said.
“As the main organiser of the seminar, we would like to make it very clear that nowhere was Penang referred to as a ‘sex city’.”
It added that that none of the participants, including the Northern Network for Migrants and Refugees (Jump), had stated so at the event.
Nor was there any emphasis given to highlighting Penang as being any better or worse than other cities and towns around the world that are grappling with the horrors of human trafficking, it added.
“Far from it. The context of the seminar was to be positive in our partnerships for tackling sex trafficking in Penang.”
Held last Saturday, the seminar titled Sex Trafficking in Penang: What we Can Do About It was officiated by Chong Eng, the state executive councillor for youth and sports, women, family and community development.
Researcher Todd Morrison of Jump was reported as saying in his presentation that George Town has at least 200 hot spots that offer sex services, with some equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS).
This led to several individuals, especially political figures, to take to social media to criticise or mock Penang for being a purported sex haven.
Even Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi was quoted by Bernama as reacting to the news, by saying that the police and local authorities conduct daily raids at hotels and entertainment premises.
Abdul Rahim claimed that the report painted a bad image of the police and insinuated they were not doing their job.
"The police never compromised with any party that conduct such activities (offer sex services) and always take stern action," he said, adding that Jump's representative would be summoned to give a statement in connection with the press report.
Need to help victims, bring traffickers to justice
Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign today emphasised that the points made in a research presented by Todd Morrison of Jump and by others were in the context of recognising that there will be women and girls, and probably boys and men, trafficked for sexual exploitation.
The seminar did not say Penang is better or worse than anywhere else, the NGO stressed, adding that human trafficking is a global and regional business of which Penang is just one location.
It explained that the seminar was to build partnerships and share ideas on how those concerned can move forward in terms of better identifying, reaching or rescuing, supporting and offering appropriate rehabilitation to the victims.
“We explore how we can identify and bring human traffickers and their associates to justice. We also share ideas for longer term possibilities for reducing the incidence of sex trafficking in our state. These are very positive things,” the group said in the statement.
It also stressed that among the points made at the seminar was that the actual figures available on the local sex trade are sketchy.
“The figures offered by Todd Morrison’s presentation were, as he stressed, just to serve to guide us in understanding that human trafficking does exist in Penang as elsewhere,” it said.
“Todd is not claiming the figures are definitive, nor that they are up to date.”
“No one is blaming anyone else for any lack of action or plan. We are not looking back, but looking forward at how we can work together to tackle the many aspects of the issue.”
Misery and devastation caused by sex trafficking
There is a need to understand that human trafficking is a horrendous crime that devastates peoples’ lives.
“Sex trafficking particularly affects women and girls, and their lives are made an absolute misery, in a way that few of us can imagine,” the NGO said.
It stressed that the purpose of the seminar and of the presentations was not to sensationalise the existence of a sex industry in Penang, nor to display numbers as definitive.
There were many positive suggestions that came out of the discussions and these will be followed through, it said.
The NGO also noted that one of the presentations talked about how jurisdictions across the world are grappling with how to tackle human trafficking, including sex trafficking.
“Whether in Europe, North America, Australia, or elsewhere in Asia, countries, cities and towns are all seeking ways to deal with the problem. No one has come up with a definitive solution,” it said.
It expressed sadness if some choose to make the issue and presentations made at the seminar something that they are not.
“We would much prefer it if we all could concentrate instead on what positive steps, what positive initiatives, what working together is necessary, to reach those women, girls, boys and men who are victims of sex trafficking. And to bring the traffickers and their associates to justice.”
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