Bali, Indonesia (Reuters)-
As many women and girls in Southeast Asia, mainly teenagers, are forced into prostitution every year and face the possibility of violence and HIV/AIDS, researchers said Wednesday.
In a report documenting criminal activity in Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, the researchers predicted that the situation would worsen as the financial crisis prompted women migrants in the region to find jobs.
The victims of trafficking, many of them between the ages of 12 and 16, were raped, imprisoned, refused food, water and medical care, or were forced to take drugs and alcohol, they said.
"The victims of human trafficking have suffered terrible and terrible human rights violations and have deprived the most basic human dignity.
It's a form of slavery, "said Jay Silverman, associate professor at Harvard's School of Public Health.
Indonesia and Cambodia use drugs and alcohol "to keep these people in slavery," he said ".
Insurance premiums were paid for young girls, prompting human traffickers to "keep bringing them in to maintain supply ".
Us hiv expert Kaitlyn WeisenN.
The development plan says most of the victims are attracted by promises to work as domestic workers or in restaurants, and ultimately they face "extreme situations of violence and exploitation" in brothels ".
"Asia is both a source and a destination," she added . ".
The study, entitled "sexual trafficking and sexually transmitted infections/HIV in Southeast Asia: the link between sexual exploitation, violence and sexual risk", was conducted by UNDP and the Harvard School of Public Health.
The survey found that in Thailand, girls abducted are more likely to have sexual contact than sex workers.
The incidence of anal sex is three times that of common, and the risk of HIV infection is greater.
In Indonesia, the prevalence of HIV among women who have been trafficked for one year or more for sexual exploitation is close to 20%. Seventy-
5% have experienced violence.
Malaysia is the third destination for women and girls trafficked from Indonesia, according to the report.
In Cambodia, 73% of rescued women and girls tested positive for sexually transmitted infections.
The financial crisis will prompt more women to find jobs abroad and make it easier for them to become prey, researchers said.
"They become more desperate and travel in a more insecure environment, which makes them very vulnerable to exploitation such as unsafe immigration, HIV and trafficking," said wiessen . ".
Rosilyne Borland of the International Organization for Migration says criminals "use people to find places to work and people need to find places to live better ".
Researchers have called for dialogue between the United Nations, not
Government organizations and law enforcement agencies.
The police must be "sensitive" to the issue and avoid raids and imprisonment, which will only push the activity underground.