Child prostitution in Thailand The state as a barrier to its effective elimination

Abstract

While several perspectives could be used to approach the issue of child trafficking, through this study I aim to present from a human rights perspective the key legal, political, and social factors that may explain the inefficiency of the Thai government in the suppression of child prostitution. Although similarities with other contexts are evident, I will argue that in the particular case of Thailand the inefficiency is due to the shortcomings of the law, as well as to the political and social conditions –in both regional and domestic level– that hinder the enforcement of the legal provisions.