Vatican City (Fides Service) - A final document has been issued following the Sixth World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Tourism held at the Pastoral Training Centre, Bangkok, Thailand, from 5th to 8th July 2004. It was organised by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People in collaboration with the Catholic Commission on Tourism of the Bishops’ Conference of Thailand. The theme of the Conference was “Tourism at the Service of Bringing People Together” in the context of the pastoral care of tourism. The document illustrates the congress activity and presents a series of recommendations. We give below a list of recommendations and appeals concerning sex tourism:

1.During the Congress, it was stressed that tourism, which has now become a social and economic phenomenon of global dimensions, should contribute in bringing together nations and cultures; in enhancing the environment without deteriorating natural resources; in bringing to fulfilment and enriching the cultural and economic wealth of the local population; in fighting all forms of discrimination and exploitation or, worst still, of sexual violence in relation to women and minors.

2. In this context, the Congress participants, inspired by the special love of Christ for the poor, consider the pastoral care of persons exploited by sex tourism as a high priority for the Church. Among these persons, the most vulnerable and in urgent need of proper care are certainly women, minors and children, but protection and special concern for children urge us to recommend for this very special group of exploited persons the following:
a) that to children in this situation, compassion, legal protection and the restoration of their human dignity be given.
b) that the child must not be criminalised in cases where the contents of the Convention of the Rights of the Child have been violated, as in the case of sexual abuse. Even more, immigration authorities should give special attention to this reality.
c) that state authorities give priority and urgency to counteracting trafficking and the economic exploitation especially of children in sex tourism.
d) That state institutions intensify the implementation of laws that protect children from sexual exploitation in tourism and bring to justice the offenders through intensive, co-ordinated and consistent efforts at all levels of society, and in collaboration with international organizations.
e) That dioceses and communities concerned give due pastoral care to children exploited for sexual purposes in the tourist industry. They should raise the awareness of society as to the seriousness of the situation and share information about this social evil and about ways to address it.
f) That dioceses and communities concerned establish structures for the pastoral care of exploited children as an important aspect of their mission of evangelisation; and that they cooperate, in dialogue and action with local state authorities, to combat child exploitation with practical measures.

g) That dioceses and communities support existing means of apostolate, or establish new ones, that will care for the victims with compassion and love and provide legal assistance, therapy and reintegration into society and, where Christians are involved, into the faith community. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 27/7/2004; Righe 45 - Parole 538