UNITED NATIONS - Latin pop heartthrob Ricky Martin has visited the United Nations to make an emotional appeal for international help in the fight against global child sex tourism.

"We have to scream this issue. There's a lot of people in denial out there and even the victims do not know that they are victims," he told a press conference here. "This is organised crime."

Martin has become a leading spokesman in the fight against the exploitation of children for sex, and contrasted the plight of victims with his own early start in the musical career that has made him an international pop star.

"I started working when I was nine years old, but it was my choice," said Martin, who met with ambassadors from UN member states to make the case for greater co-operation to stamp out child sex tourism.

"These children do not have a choice. They are forced into slavery," he said.

"It's been very rewarding and liberating to know that many ambassadors are willing to protect these children from all over the world."

Martin appeared with Michael Garcia from the US Department of Homeland Security, who praised last year's so-called Protect Act - a US law that lengthened prison terms and eased the standard of proof in child sex cases.

In the 10 previous years, only two cases of child sex tourism were brought in US courts but seven have been made since the law was passed, he said.

The measure provides for a 30-year prison term for each offence.

"We're using it very aggressively now at Homeland Security to get at these child sex tourists who really think they can travel overseas, abuse children and return to their ordinary lives," Garcia said.

He said the success was partly due to increased cooperation with nations like Cambodia and Costa Rica, where US nationals make up a high percentage of the child sex tourist industry.

The 32-year-old Martin was born in Puerto Rico. His international chart hits include "Livin' La Vida Loca" and "She Bangs."

source: AFP