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The Ugly Reality of Human Trafficking in Bali

For many vacationers, the sun-kissed paradise of Bali represents a lush Eden — a heaven on earth. For many of Indonesia’s children, however, this island has become a living hell. It is estimated that as many as 70,000 – 80,000 Indonesian children are victims of prostitution and trafficking, with a large percentage of them enslaved in sex tourism industries around the country – particularly in Bali, Batam, and Jakarta.

Conditions That Create Desperation

While the economy of Bali is booming from tourism, Indonesians from impoverished areas on less thriving islands are seeking better education and job opportunities. Poverty combined with the demand for sex services in larger cities by foreign sex tourists and local consumers has created a pipeline for adult and child victims of sex trafficking from all over the country. According to the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs reports that there were 56,000 children being sold for sex throughout all 34 Indonesian provinces in 2016.

Helping Combat Sex Trafficking

According to the Australian Federal Police, Indonesia has “eclipsed Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia to become the number one destination for Australian sex tourists.” UNICEF’s End Child Exploitation Campaign estimates that children make up approximately 30 percent of the individuals performing commercial sex work in Indonesia. This enormous injustice cannot be solved by any single organization. Instead, ending child sex slavery in Indonesia requires committed support of local abolitionists across the country and a functioning network of focused activists. We believe that the tourists who comprise so much of Indonesia’s economy have a role to play through their advocacy, support, and ethical tourism.