Photo gallery
The fight against sex tourism on Madagascar’s beaches
An ILO project in the area of Tuléar supports community efforts to fight commercial sexual exploitation of children, one of the worst forms of child labour.
Located in southern Madagascar on a beautiful, sun-kissed, stretch of coastline, the area around Tuléar is an ideal holiday spot. But, the presence of tourists in an extremely poor region is also a risk for for children, who may fall into commercial sexual exploitation.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
Due to poverty affecting the area, it is not unusual to see very young girls with both locals and foreigners in bars or on the beach, exposing them to the worst forms of child labour and exploitation.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
Local authorities and NGOs are joining efforts to limit the spread of sex tourism in the area of Tuléar. A billboard sends a clear message that anybody caught having sex with children could end up in jail.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
18 y/o Frankita had fallen into the trap of commercial sexual exploitation of children in the seaside resort of Tuléar. She now works as chambermaid in one of the city’s top hotels thanks to the training provided by the ILO project.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
Bonita – now 22 – also managed to get away from the trap of commercial sexual exploitation of children. One of the beneficiaries of the ILO project, she is now a waitress in a restaurant along the popular Ifaty Beach.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
21 y/o Justome used to be an "intermediary” between young girls and costumers in Mangily, near Tuléar. After being trained, he now works as a cook in one of the most popular beach hotels.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
Despite limited means of action, Labour inspector Patrick Andriavelo has managed to send several foreign sex offenders to jail. However, too many cases are still settled through financial arrangements rather than prison sentences.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
“We supported 80 children in 2014 and 2015, and 50 in 2016,” says Emma Razanakolona, who heads the local branch of SOS Villages d’Enfants, the NGO in charge of implementing the Tuléar project.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
"The first thing to do, therefore, is to apply existing legislation and to make the fight against the worst forms of child labour in Tuléar and beyond a national priority,” concludes Christian Ntsay, Director of the ILO Office in Madagascar’s capital city, Antananarivo.
© Marcel Crozet / ILO