SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SEX TRADE:
Sexually Exploited Children and Youth
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This guide contains general information only and is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, contact a lawyer. (PDF Version, 864 kb, PDF Help)
Jennifer Berry,
Child Sexual Exploitation Specialist
Child Protection Branch
Federal Symposium on April 27th,
in commemoration of National Victims
of Crime Awareness Week 2009
Sexual Exploitation
"Prostitution has historically been deemed a moral crime. The so-called "world's oldest profession" has a precarious position in society. Prostitution has generally been tolerated as something that invariably exists, as something that happens with regularity and some degree of normalcy. Prostitution, while never fully accepted, is not fully rejected. It is rather condoned as a "necessary evil" by most segments of society."
Culture Components
- Language
- Cognitive Systems (beliefs, values, thoughts).
- Roles (people involved in sex trade)
- Norms/rules (normalized behaviors)
- Economics (what's of value)
- Politics (what's involved, how they operate)
- Arts and Technology (forms of expression and tools)
- Spirituality
Who are the Sexually Exploited?
- 1 – 10 million children world wide
- 400+ per year in Winnipeg
- Between 8 to 16 years (average beginning age is 13 years)
- Range from 2 – 22 years in sex trade; almost ½ remain in sex trade for 2+ years; average is 12 years
- More females than males
- 52% were sexually abused as children
- 52% were physically abused as children
- 81% ran away from home
- 72% were in care of CFS
- most have had multiple placements
- 33% were homeless
- 93% are drug & alcohol affected
- 53% used alcohol before age 12 yrs
- Tried to escape or leave sex trade average of 7 times
- 79% have criminal charges
- 46% have been incarcerated
- 62% are on probation
- 44% were treated for an emotional problem by a professional
- 38% attempted suicide
- 63% failed/repeated a grade; 77% were suspended from school
- Average education is Grade 8
- 70 – 80% are of Aboriginal descent
- Immigrant & refugee youth are at risk
Exploitation Diagram 1.1
Exploitation Diagram 1.2
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