Reality and Rhetoric in European Policy on Child Sex Tourism

Attention for child sex tourism has
markedly increased since the midnineties of the
previous century. Being increasingly
confronted with this phenomenon, the European Union
(EU) could play an important role in its prevention
and eradication. However, scholarly literature on the
role of the EU is almost non-existent. This book not
only presents an analysis of EU policy initiatives
until mid 2007 but also provides a comparative
perspective to policy initiatives of three EU member
states (Sweden, the UK and Italy) and the EU. These
initiatives are analyzed through an innovative
approach consisting of a depth scan and a width
scan . These scans prove to be a useful tool to
analyze policy initiatives as they are found to
provide a deeper insight into the complexity of
policies on child sex tourism. Results are presented
of how European policy operates, what major
obstacles are present and where the lacunas can be
found. Both scans learn us that root causes are
addressed mostly rhetorically while in reality the
emphasis lies on situational prevention and deterrence.

Autorentext

Thomas Maeseele (1982) holds a Master's degree in Social Work and
in European Criminology and Criminal Justice Systems (both from
Ghent University). He is currently working as a teaching and
research assistant at the Department of Social Welfare Studies of
Ghent University.

Klappentext

Attention for child sex tourism has
markedly increased since the midnineties of the
previous century. Being increasingly
confronted with this phenomenon, the European Union
(EU) could play an important role in its prevention
and eradication. However, scholarly literature on the
role of the EU is almost non-existent. This book not
only presents an analysis of EU policy initiatives
until mid 2007 but also provides a comparative
perspective to policy initiatives of three EU member
states (Sweden, the UK and Italy) and the EU. These
initiatives are analyzed through an innovative
approach consisting of a 'depth scan' and a 'width
scan'. These scans prove to be a useful tool to
analyze policy initiatives as they are found to
provide a deeper insight into the complexity of
policies on child sex tourism. Results are presented
of how European policy operates, what major
obstacles are present and where the lacunas can be
found. Both scans learn us that root causes are
addressed mostly rhetorically while in reality the
emphasis lies on situational prevention and deterrence.