Australia moves to curb ‘orphanage tourism’

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SYDNEY: Australia has criminalised the act of falsely inducing children into orphanages as a form of slavery, in what is believed to be the first move of its kind in the world.

Amid warnings that children in poor countries are being shipped into the institutions to meet the lucrative demand for western volunteerism, a new law has been introduced to tackle the issue.

The Modern Slavery Bill was passed by both houses of parliament yesterday and includes an explicit reference to “trafficking and/or exploitation of children in orphanages.” Under the new law, so-called ‘orphanage trafficking’ will be treated as a slavery and trafficking offence.

“Australia is the first country in the world to recognise orphanage trafficking as a form of modern slavery,” said Paul Ronalds of Save the Children Australia.

It is estimated that around 80 per cent of the eight million children in orphanages worldwide have parents or family who could take care of them.

Sometimes children are sent away, with their parents believing they will get a good education.

Activists hope the legal change will cause Australians to more carefully vet where they volunteer overseas. — AFP