Child sex tourism

Child sex tourism involves people who commit a criminal offence by engaging in sexual acts with children living in foreign countries.

People who engage in child sex tourism take advantage of the fact that law enforcement in other parts of the world is often weaker than in their own countries. They also exploit the poverty, social misery and naivety of the most underprivileged in foreign destinations. The main intention of child sex tourists is to establish contact with minors in order to sexually exploit them.

In Switzerland, the sexual exploitation of children is a criminal offence and liable to prosecution under Article 187 of the Swiss Criminal Code (SCC). Depending on the seriousness of the circumstances of the offence, further penal provisions may apply, such as Article 189 (sexual coercion) and Article 190 (rape).

Swiss federal authorities have stepped up their efforts in fighting child sex tourism in recent years. A special fedpol unit dealing with child pornography and pedocriminality offences co-operates closely with numerous partner services both at home and abroad.

Since June 2008, an online form has been available to the general public to report cases of child sex tourism to the appropriate judicial authorities.

Legal basis
Links

Art. 5 Offences against minors abroad
CC 311.0
Art. 97 Limitation of prosecution rights / Periods
CC 311.0
Art. 187 Endangering the development of minors / Sexual acts with children
CC 311.0
Art. 189 Offences against sexual liberty and honour / Indecent assault
CC 311.0
Art. 190 Offences against sexual liberty and honour / Rape
CC 311.0