Some poverty-stricken families may sell their children into the sex trade for money to survive or to pay off a family debt. Children will often accept this because they fear that if they don't their family will be broken up. Religious and cultural backgrounds play a part in the prevalence of prostitution, particularly in Asia and Latin America. Women are encouraged to be virgins when they marry. With the rise in AIDS, many men are keen to have sex with young girls who are virgins as they believe they are less likely to be in infected with the virus.
Young boys are also increasingly vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
In areas such as Sri Lanka and North Africa, it is more common for boys to work as prostitutes than for girls. In August 1996, more than 1,200 delegates from 119 countries attended the first World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Children, held in Sweden. A number of proposals were put forward and an 'Agenda for Action ' was endorsed by participants at the conclusion of the Congress. In recent times, laws have been introduced by a number of countries, including Australia, Great Britain and America, which make it illegal for their citizens to have sex with child prostitutes in other countries. In Sri Lanka, police now have powers to arrest those responsible for organising and promoting child sex tourism.