HEART OF THE STREET (HOTS) is a community group based in Chiang Mai, Thailand working towards combating the child sex trade. HOTS campaigns to raise awareness amongst the residents and tourists about the problem of the child sex trade. In an effort to curb the problem and to help improve the lives of the local street children, HOTS conducts media and educational activities to mobilise the public to take action and report offenders.
Since the child sex trade causes the most physical and emotional trauma and destruction to the lives of these children, HOTS is committed to campaigning on this issue. HOTS was created to raise public awareness and to help mobilise community action to combat the problem.
HOTS recognises the numerous intricate factors that help perpetuate the commercial sexual exploitation of street children living and working on the streets of Chiang Mai. Poverty in combination with social factors, gender relations and cultural norms keep many children trapped in a high-risk situation, and makes them vulnerable to child sex tourism and other sexual exploitation. The primary ways in which children are treated as commodities for sexual purposes are through child trafficking, child prostitution, child pornography, child sex tourism and early marriages.
Thailand has a reputation of being 'the sex capital' of the world, therefore it attracts many child sex offenders. It is this growing trend of foreigners coming to Chiang Mai seeking sexual favours from street, cross-border and other disadvantaged children that is most alarming and unacceptable.
In 2006 HOTS began coordinating with various GOs, NGOs, universities, groups and individuals in the public and private sector. This was in preparation for the launch of the HOTS campaign entitled, 'Stop the child sex trade. Take action…..report offenders.'
HOTS is an ECPAT partner (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Child Trafficking for Sexual Purposes). HOTS also works with TRAFCORD (Anti-Trafficking Coordination Unit for Northern Thailand) the Chiang Mai Coordination Centre for the Protection of Women's and Children's Rights and FACE (Fight Against Child Exploitation).
HOTS has the support of other local organisations involved in addressing the needs of vulnerable children. The Volunteers for Children Development Foundation, Open-Hand, Child Life and Development and Education Programme for Daughters and Communities (DEPDC) are some of the organisations in support of the campaign.
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HOTS members are made up of Thai and foreigners living in Chiang Mai. These members are from diverse professional fields including: artists, journalists, university professors, school teachers, musicians, theatrical performers, business people, NGOs and civil engineers.
