In a country with high unemployment and over 4 million school-age children unable to go to school, it is not difficult to understand how trafficking can thrive. The latest government estimates in 2004 put the number of children trafficked for prostitution at 21,000 for Java and 70,000 for the whole of Indonesia. But the ILO says this is just the tip of the iceberg as trafficking is notoriously difficult to track.

At least 70,000 Indonesian children trafficked for prostitution. This is beyond comprehension.

Read the rest of the article at IRIN.com.

(And I’m glad I didn’t listen to that little doubting voice in my head whispering, “Don’t post anything today. Nobody is interested.” I’m going to continue to speak out about for these kids, even if I do live on the other side of the world.)