Child Protection Operations

UNCLASSIFIED

Child Protection Operations

Commander Chris Sheehan

AFP Manager Jakarta Office

and Superintendent Gary O’Neill

AFP Senior Liaison Officer Bali Office

UNCLASSIFIED

Child Sex Tourism

Definition

The commercial sexual exploitation of children

in their homeland or another country by foreign

adults, who typically travel from their own richer

country to a less-developed one to engage in

sexual activity with children.

UNCLASSIFIED

Australian initiatives•1994 Child Sex Tourism illegal

•Crimes committed overseas punishable in Australia.

•Broad scope – personally/third party/benefiting from acts

•Strong penalties max. 12 - 17 years imprisonment

•Specialist AFP investigation teams

•Awareness campaign to deter child sex tourism

UNCLASSIFIED

What do the AFP do?

•Intelligence and investigations capacity.

•Collaboration with overseas law enforcement agencies via extensive AFP International Network.

•Member of Virtual Global Taskforce.

UNCLASSIFIED

Wednesday, 19 April 2023

AFP International Network

• 34 Posts, 28 countries, 100 police

• Facilitates communication and conducts enquiries with overseas agencies

• Provides an international intelligence gathering and exchange capacity

• Liaison with law enforcement and government agencies in relevant countries

UNCLASSIFIED

Wednesday, 19 April 2023

Global engagement

SOUTH PACIFIC HoniaraPort Moresby Port VilaSuva

SOUTH PACIFIC HoniaraPort Moresby Port VilaSuva

Bali BangkokBeijingDhakaDiliGuangzhouHanoiHo Chi Minh City

Bali BangkokBeijingDhakaDiliGuangzhouHanoiHo Chi Minh City

Hong KongIslamabad JakartaKuala LumpurManilaPhnom PenhRangoonSingapore

Hong KongIslamabad JakartaKuala LumpurManilaPhnom PenhRangoonSingapore

ASIAASIA

AMERICAS

Bogotá Los AngelesNew York (UN)Washington DC

AMERICAS

Bogotá Los AngelesNew York (UN)Washington DC

EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

BeirutBelgradeDubaiThe HagueLondonLyon (Interpol)Pretoria

EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

BeirutBelgradeDubaiThe HagueLondonLyon (Interpol)Pretoria

100 Officers, 34 posts, 28 countries 100 Officers, 34 posts, 28 countries

UNCLASSIFIED

What is the AFP’s role in combating child sex tourism?

•Prevention, detection and prosecution of Australians.

•Assist international investigations and victim/offender identification.

•Provide training to overseas law enforcement agencies.

UNCLASSIFIED

Australian travelling child sex offenders

•Australians who travel to other countries to commit sexual offences against children OR commit child sex offences whilst in other countries.

•Australia is predominantly a ‘source’ country.

•Access to countries that previously restricted entry.

•Use of the internet to organise child sex tours.

UNCLASSIFIED

Legislative overview •Applicable to Australian citizens and residents.

•Victim must be under the age of 16 years.

•Higher penalties apply for people and companies who facilitate the crime than those who are directed to it or engage in it.

•Double jeopardy rules apply if acquittals or convictions are obtained overseas.

•Legislation has extraterritorial application.

UNCLASSIFIED

Top 5 Destinations•Philippines

•Thailand

•Cambodia

•Indonesia

•Vietnam

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CST into the Future

•More networked offenders

•Continued and more sophisticated use of technology

•Drift by “sexpatriots” from tourist areas to rural areas

•Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines to remain high risk destinations

•Offenders will travel anywhere they believe there is a high probability of sexual contact with children

UNCLASSIFIED

Strategies to Combat CST

• Need to work with local NGOs (eyes and ears) to gather intelligence and develop potential targets

• Support and collaboration with local law enforcement in CST destination countries.

• Targeting

• Investigations

UNCLASSIFIED

Strategies to Combat CST

•Disruption :

– Passport cancellations under the Australian Passports Act 2005

• Education and Awareness

- Raising awareness on CST issues

- Building capability

- Educating the community (international/domestic)

UNCLASSIFIED

THANK YOU

Questions?