In the past week I have visited two projects that are directly tackling demand. The first is in Bangkok where a team are out on the streets in the red light districts developing relationships with male sex tourists in the red light districts and the second is working with pimps in a gym in an area in Phnom Penh that is notorious for the foreign pedophiles who come to have sex with young children. Both are faith based organizations who believe that change is possible even for the worst pimp or perputator. This is an incredible thought. At the moment tactics to address demand are often to scare the perpetrators and pimps through law reform and implementation that jails offenders and campaigns such as the ‘Abuse a child in this country, go to jail in yours’ billboards but whilst important this may have limited effect. But this alternative approach challenges the fatalistic notion that rights people off and says that through relationships people can make choices that are better for their families, better for the girls and better for themselves. Glenn Miles, Director of Asia Prevention
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4 comments:
What a way to create change. It takes a lot of pride-swallowing to see an individual that you would tend to think of as 'evil' as what they truly are; a damaged and broken individual who has value. That's a tough one.
wow that picture speaks so much volume that people need to know about. I hope the projects that are going on will be successful in the long run. It sounds very dangerous. Have you come in contact with the organization that works in that area called Remember Nhu? I believe that's where they are, but perhaps not? I have two of their DVDs about their organization which is amazing.
Glenn---Wow. Thank you for being brave enough to post this. As a survivor who has some insight into this area I applaud the idea of allowing the perpetrators to be looked at as human beings with deep seeded issues. The part that you left out puzzles me, though. Glenn, I would be curious to know what the percentage is of perpetrators who change their course. The reason is because after having been under wing of these types for an extended period in my life as a minor, I came to know the mind of these people. Most are on the path they are on due to problems that have caused them to believe that their way of life is "normal". I think your approach is going in the right direction, I just don't think that there are that many perpetrators out there that will muster up a TRUE change, and the root of problem, I believe, lies in the way that these peoples' psychological issues are dealt with (and more importantly NOT dealt with when they are at their most vulnerable point---in prison). The system, (inmates and the civilian employees) will hear of nothing but revenge, and some even have repressive issues themselves that hinder their acceptance of anything close to your ideal.
I wish you great success, Glenn. I know that love is the only way.
Keep following the light. Love will find a way. Bless you.
Certainly no one is beyonf redemption. One cannot helop but be reminded of the former slave-trader who wrote "Amazing Grace" and was an influence on the life of William Wilberforce.
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