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The commercial sexual exploitation of children is child sexual abuse in exchange for some sort of payment, either money or favours. Children are directly used for sex and/or used in pornography. The sexual exploitation of children is a serious crime and against the law in every country.
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Children may be 'trafficked' — transported to another place, either within or outside their own country, for the purpose of exploitation, such as forced labour or prostitution. Or they may be exploited by an adult who has a continuing abusive relationship with a child, offering rewards, gifts or protection in exchange for sex.
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Because the exploitation of children is often hidden, there are no reliable figures about how many children are exploited. But the number is thought to be up to two million a year (International Labour Organization). Most are girls, but a significant number are boys.
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This exploitation happens all over the world: in rich countries and in poor. For example, according to studies:
— there are between 40,000 and 60,000 children in prostitution in the Taiwan Province of China;
— 25 per cent of all people in prostitution in Tulear, Madagascar, are children;
— in the United States, one in five children who use the Internet regularly are approached by strangers for sex;
— in Mexico, more than 16,000 children are involved in prostitution;
— in Lithuania, 20 - 50 percent of people in prostitution are children. Children as young as 11 are known to work in brothels, and some children between 10 and 12 years old living in out-of-home care have been used to make pornographic films. -
Sexual exploitation happens in many different locations, including on the street, in brothels, in private homes, and in tourist facilities, such as hotels.
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All commercial sexual exploitation of children involves an abuse of power: adults or other children taking advantage of their greater wealth, status and physical strength.
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All sexually exploited children suffer serious physical, psychological and social harm. The exploitation may involve rape or other physical and mental violence. In addition, children have a high risk of being infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, because young bodies are generally more vulnerable to damage from sex, and because children are often not able to control when and with whom they have sex, or whether a condom is used.
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Children who are sexually exploited or abused are victims of a crime. No child can ever be said to have 'chosen' to be sexually exploited or is to blame for what happens to them. Children turn to prostitution when they have no other options.
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The solution to the problem must involve a broad range of measures, including:
— reducing poverty and improving access to education in a safe school environment, so children have more options and are better equipped to protect themselves;
— changing attitudes, so the problem is not kept hidden because of shame, so that girls and women are never regarded as property or second-class citizens, and so that adults and children are less likely to think of children in a sexual way;
— passing and enforcing appropriate laws that punish exploiters and abusers, and not victims;
— finding ways of identifying and supporting children at risk, and helping sexually abused and exploited children return to their communities.
