CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — Aussie pedophiles could soon be barred from leaving the country, as the government mounts a major crackdown on child sex tourism in the region.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Australia is planning on passing a law to deny or revoke the passports of up to 20,000 registered child sex offenders, in an effort to stop them from victimizing children in poorer nations.
Of the 800 offenders who travelled overseas in 2016, roughly half went to South East Asia, and did not report travel plans as they were required to.
Travelling to this region is relatively inexpensive, and Australian pedophiles have been known to hit up certain destinations for so-called “child rape holidays.”
Currently, 3,200 individuals are on the list, and thus banned from travel for life. The new law will apply as long as an offender is on the register.
The ban is mandatory, but temporary passports may be granted to those with valid travel reasons who do not pose a risk to kids abroad.
Australia has been trying to stem the flow of child sex tourists from the country. Citizens and residents who are found guilty of molesting children overseas can be jailed for up to 25 years.
