ECPAT UK - Protecting Children Everywhere

What is the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children?

It involves the sexual abuse of a child by an adult paid for either by cash or in kind (through meals, clothes, payment of rent etc). It is also a form of forced labour and a contemporary form of slavery. It includes all acts that are deeming, degrading and many times life threatening to children. The three main elements are:

the prostitution of children
the abuse of children in pornography
the trafficking of children for sexual exploitation

However, there are other aspects to the commercial sexual exploitation of children, such as the sexual exploitation of children in tourism, which may incorporate the issue of child prostitution, but could be all three issues:

How many children are affected?

It is impossible to estimate how many children have been affected. The covert and criminal nature of child sex crimes and the vulnerability of children make data collection a difficult task.

Evidence of child sexual exploitation is primarily anecdotal or in the form of specific case studies. Much of the research and data that exists is not disaggregated by age or gender.

Who are the children and why are they vulnerable?

Many interlinked factors make children, both boys and girls, especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation worldwide. Those most at risk of abuse include children with little or no education, those who are homeless, orphaned, working on the streets, trafficked, and separated from their families during war or natural disasters, from broken families, children affected by drug and alcohol abuse and those who have already been abused within their family. Children in these circumstances often do not have the confidence, power or opportunity to speak out and thus they become invisible victims.

The root causes are complex. Poverty is only one factor. Economic and gender inequality place a large burden on girl children. Social exclusion and lack of education particularly impact on children from marginalised communities and minority ethnic groups. Millions of children have also been orphaned by AIDS. Criminals, including child sex offenders and traffickers, prey on these communities and their children by offering money and hope. Ignorance, lack of education and desperation also leads families to sell their own children.

What are the consequences for children?

Commercial sexual exploitation denies a child its right to enjoy childhood and to lead a productive, rewarding and dignified life. It can result in serious, even life threatening consequences for the physical, psychological and social development of children. Children and young people who are victims of sexual exploitation often suffer from physical and sexual abuse, often of an extreme kind, such as rape and torture. The emotional damage is extensive and requires specialist counselling and care. Usually, the longer the exploitation, the more health problems that will be experienced. But some children will suffer life-long damage very quickly, such as contracting AIDS. In addition, many children lose their trust in adults, become anti-social, fearful and anxious. They experience this violence at an age when they should normally be trusting, innocent, healthy and energetic youngsters. The consequences are devastating and affect all aspects of their lives.

Who is involved?

A wide range of individuals and groups contribute to the commercial sexual exploitation of children. In addition to the child sex offender, persons involved in the commercial sexual exploitation of children may include family members, community leaders, the private sector and organised criminal networks. Deception is most often used to lure children away from a more protective environment, however, poverty, addiction to drugs and discrimination against girl children and greed are all factors putting children are risk of abuse from their families and communities. Children can also be lured and deceived into the sex industry by former sex workers who promise money and a better life. It is becoming more apparent that organised criminal networks take part in procuring and channelling children toward commercial sexual exploitation and in perpetuating such exploitation.